The US president stated to have a commitment to defend the island that Beijing considers as one of its provinces.
Le Monde with AFP
US President Joe Biden said, Thursday, October 21, that the United States was ready to defend militarily Taiwan, in case of attack by China; The latter considers the island as part of its territory.
“Yes, we have a commitment to this effect,” said Joe Biden when an exchange with Baltimore voterums (Maryland) broadcast on the CNN chain.
The declaration of the US President comes in contradiction with the long-standing policy by the United States called “strategic ambiguity”, Washington helping Taiwan to build and strengthen his defenses without explicitly promotion to come to his Help if an attack took place.
“sacred commitment”
During an interview this summer on the ABC chain, the American president had made a similar promise, speaking of “sacred commitment” to defend the NATO allies like “Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan” .
In the wake of Joe Biden’s statements, Thursday night, the White House affirmed to the press as the US policy towards Taiwan had “not changed”.
Also questioned whether the United States would be able to respond to the development of military programs in China, Mr. Biden also answered in the affirmative. “Do not worry about whether … they will be more powerful,” he said, before adding: “China, Russia and the rest of the world know that we have the most powerful military ability of the world. “He reiterated his desire not to engage in a new cold war with Beijing.
No cold war with Beijing
At a press conference on Thursday, the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, asked about the Taiwanese file, pointed out that his country was not at the offensive. China is in a “defense” position. “We are fighting to maintain our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.
“We are not the trouble of trouble. On the contrary, some countries, the United States in particular, take dangerous measures leading directly to a dangerous situation in Taiwan,” he added. “We should call the United States to put an end to such a practice. Training Taiwan in a wall, it is the interest of anyone”, hammered the Chinese diplomat.
Do not ” Trust “to China on Taiwan
China and the United States oppose frontal effect on many files in a cold war climate, but the Taiwanese question is often considered as the only one likely to cause armed confrontation.
The next US ambassador to Beijing, the Nicholas Burns Career diplomat, said Wednesday that “not trusted” to China on Taiwan, and recommended to sell more arms to the Island to strengthen its defenses. Mr. Burns was speaking to the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, which must confirm his appointment. He had also denounced the recent Chinese incursions in the Taiwanese Air Defense Identification Area, qualifying “reprehensible”.
Since 1979, the United States has recognized the People’s Republic of China, but the US Congress imposes parallel with providing weapons in Taiwan for its self-defense. The island has its own government since the victory of Communists on the mainland of China in 1949, but Beijing considers this territory as one of its provinces and threatens to resort to the force in the event that the island formally proclaims its independence.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, however, recently reaffirmed his willingness to reach a “peaceful” reunification.