In a Fox News report that may surprise many, China claims that United States President Joe Biden denounced Taiwanese independence.
Taiwan has claimed independence since its separation from China in 1949. America has long supported Taiwan.
During a Town Hall meeting on CNN last month, Biden pledged to continue supporting Taiwan. When Anderson Cooper asked, “Are you saying the U.S. would come to Taiwan’s defense if China were to attack?” Biden replied, “Yes, we have a commitment to do that.”
“China, Russia, and the rest of the world knows we have the most powerful military in the history of the world,” Biden continued in the interview. “Don’t worry about whether we’re going to – they’re going to be more powerful.”
“What you do have to worry about is whether or not they’re going to engage in activities that will put them in a position where they may make a serious mistake,” Biden concluded.
That fairly strong statement was walked back by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki the next day: “The President was not announcing any change in our policy, nor has he made any decision to change our policy… there is no change in our policy,” Psaki stated.
Today’s declaration from China follows a “virtual summit” between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Fox News is reporting that, according to a read-out following the virtual summit, Chinese officials indicated that Biden confirmed support for the one-China policy and indicated that the U.S. “does not support ‘Taiwan independence.’”
The statement from Chinese officials is either false or indicates a significant shift in U.S. policy.
The Chinese have made their position very clear. Their statement read: “Should the separatist forces for ‘Taiwan independence’ provoke us, force our hands or even cross the red line, we will be compelled to take resolute measures. On this question bearing on China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, there is no room for compromise.”
Following the virtual summit, the White House did not dispute China’s statement and noted their support of the one-China principle. However, the White House notes that the two nations are not together in understanding what that means.
Seeking to minimize any daylight between the two nations, the White House issued this statement:
“President Biden underscored that the United States remains committed to the ‘one-China’ policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances.”
The statement also noted the U.S. “strongly opposes” altering the “status quo” in the region or any moves by China to “undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
The Global Times, a publication widely viewed as a mouthpiece for the Chinese government, posted this tweet:
“No one should underestimate the strong resolve, determination and capability of the Chinese people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
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