Re: In Tokyo, Biden says would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan

[Ramon F. Herrera]

In article <t1i7hd$3258u$8...@news.freedyn.de>
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> ...I spent all my money at the sex shoppe.

TOKYO, May 23 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on
Monday he would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan, as
part of a series of critical comments about China, but an aide
said the remark represented no change in U.S. policy on the self-
ruled island.

Biden's comment, made during the his first visit to Japan since
taking office, and as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
looked on, appeared to be a departure from existing U.S. policy
of so-called strategic ambiguity on Taiwan.

China considers the democratic island its territory, part of
"one China", and says it is the most sensitive and important
issue in its ties with the United States.

When a reporter asked Biden if the United States would defend
Taiwan if it were attacked, the president answered: "Yes."

"That's the commitment we made," he said, during a joint news
conference with the Japanese leader. "We agree with a one-China
policy. We've signed on to it and all the intended agreements
made from there. But the idea that, that it can be taken by
force, just taken by force, is just not, is just not
appropriate."

He added that it was his expectation that such an event would
not happen or be attempted.

Following Biden's comments, aWhite House official said there
were was no change in policy towards Taiwan.

The president's national security aides shifted in their seats
and tilted their heads, studying Biden closely as he responded
to the question on Taiwan. Several looked down as he made what
appeared to be an unambiguous commitment to Taiwan's defence.

Biden made a similar comment about defending Taiwan in October.
At that time, a White House spokesperson said Biden was not
announcing any change in U.S. policy and one analyst referred to
the comment as a "gaffe".

The United States has long agreed that there is one China,
including Taiwan, but it has adopted its "strategic ambiguity"
on the question of whether it would get involved in military
conflict over the island.

The remarks came as Biden made tough comments about China's
increasingly assertive posture in the region, saying he hoped
Russian President Vladimir Putin would pay a price for his
invasion of Ukraine in part to show China what it would face if
it were to invade Taiwan.

The comments are likely to both infuriate Beijing and overshadow
the centrepiece of Biden's Japan visit, the launch of an Indo-
Pacific Economic Framework, a broad plan providing an economic
pillar for U.S. engagement with Asia. read more

His trip includes meetings with the leaders of Japan, India and
Australia, in the "Quad" group of countries.

'STRONG JAPAN'
Japan's Kishida emphasised Tokyo's readiness to take a more
robust defence posture, something the United States has long
welcomed.

Kishida said that he told Biden that Japan would consider
various options to boost its defence capabilities, including the
ability to retaliate, signalling a potential shift in Japan's
defence policy.

That would include a "considerable increase" in its defence
budget, Kishida said.

"A strong Japan, and a strong US-Japan alliance, is a force for
good in the region," Biden said at the news conference following
their discussions.

Kishida said that he had gained support from Biden on Japan's
becoming a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council amid
growing calls for reform of the council. China and Russia are
permanent members.

Worries are growing in Asia about an increasingly assertive
China, particularly in light of its close ties to Russia, and
tension has risen over self-ruled Taiwan, which China considers
a renegade province.

https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-meets-japanese-emperor-start-
visit-launch-regional-economic-plan-2022-05-23/