Advertisement

Joe Biden insists US policy on Taiwan has not changed

  • US President says policy of ‘strategic ambiguity’ has not changed a day after he said he was willing to use force to defend the island
  • Some critics have suggested Biden misspoke, but other analysts believe he was well aware of what he was doing

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
7
US President Joe Biden pictured ahead of the Quad meeting in Tokyo. Photo: AFP
Joe Biden on Tuesday said there was no change to the US policy of “strategic ambiguity” on Taiwan, a day after he appeared to stretch the limits of Washington’s line on the island by saying he would be willing to use force to defend it.
Advertisement

The issue of Taiwan looms over a meeting in Tokyo of leaders of the Quad grouping of the United States, Japan, Australia and India, who have stressed their determination to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific in the face of an increasingly assertive China.

While Washington is required by law to provide self-ruled Taiwan with the means to defend itself, it has long followed a policy of “strategic ambiguity” on whether it would intervene militarily to protect it in the event of an attack by Beijing – a convention Biden had appeared to break with on Monday.

On Tuesday, Biden, asked if there had been any change to the US policy on Taiwan, responded: “No.”

“The policy has not changed at all. I stated that when I made my statement yesterday,” he said after a round of talks with his Quad colleagues.

Advertisement

Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province and says it is the most sensitive and important issue in its relationship with Washington.

Advertisement