US President, Joe Biden has again pledged support to defend Taiwan amidst tension between the self-governing island and the Republic of China.
Driving the news
President Biden gave the assurance on a televised interview stating that the US armed forces are ready to defend the democratically run island “if in fact there was an unprecedented attack.”
- A US official also stated after the interview that the U.S. standing policy of “strategic ambiguity” is still valid.
What they are saying
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning in a briefing in Beijing responded to the comments by the US President claiming that the comments sent a “seriously wrong signal” to separatists forces for Taiwan independence.
- Meanwhile, Taiwan’s foreign ministry has thanked President Biden for the reassurance.
In case you missed it
The US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taiwan last month after the Foreign Ministry of the People’s Republic of China, had threatened to carry out military action if the US Speaker and her entourage dared to visit the country.
Nancy Pelosi, as part of a planned tour of US-friendly nations in Asia, visited the self-governing and democratic island of Taiwan, which Beijing views as a breakaway province that they would inevitably reclaim.
The Chinese government then launched military ships and planes across the Taiwanese territories (sky and water) and even launched missiles over the island’s capital, Taipei. China has, in a show of strength, launched its largest and most aggressive live war drills in years.
These military drills have grounded flights and disrupted shipping activities in one of the top zones known for global trade. Regardless, the US has sent 28 members of Congress since China’s military agitation started.
Why it matters
The continuous assurance of support to Taiwan by the US government shows China that a military strike on the self-governing island wouldn’t just be an action against the country but also against the US.