WASHINGTON: The United States on Friday sought to prevent an escalation with China, saying there was no change in Taiwan policy after President Joe Biden promised to defend the island from attack by Beijing.

Tensions have soared in recent months as Beijing steps up air incursions near Taiwan, a self-ruling democracy that the growing Asian power has vowed one day to take over, by force if necessary.

At a CNN televised forum in Baltimore on Thursday evening, Biden was asked whether the United States would come to Taiwan’s defence if China invaded.

“Yes,” he responded. “We have a commitment to that.” Biden’s statement appeared at odds with the long-held US policy of “strategic ambiguity”, where Washington helps build Taiwan’s defences but does not explicitly promise to come to the island’s help in the event of war.

Washington now trying to contain Beijing’s anger

The White House clarified on Friday that it was still guided by the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, in which Congress required the United States to provide weaponry to “enable Taiwan to maintain sufficient self-defence capabilities”.

“The president was not announcing any change in our policy and there is no change in our policy,” a White House spokesperson said.

“We will uphold our commitment under the act to support Taiwan’s self-defence, and we will continue to oppose any unilateral changes in the status quo,” the spokesperson said.

Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, on a visit to Nato headquarters in Brussels, declined to discuss “hypotheticals” but said the United States “will continue to help Taiwan with the sorts of capabilities that it needs to defend itself”.

The policy is designed to deter a Chinese invasion but also discourage Taiwan from formally declaring independence — something Beijing regards as a red line.

Biden’s comments were welcomed on Friday by Taiwan, which has pushed to bolster international alliances to protect itself from Beijing.

“The US government has demonstrated, through actual actions, their rock solid support for Taiwan,” Presidential Office spokesperson Xavier Chang said in a statement.

But Beijing said that Biden’s comments risked “damaging Sino-US relations,” warning Washington on Friday to “act and speak cautiously on the Taiwan issue”.

“China has no room for compromise on issues involving its core interests,” foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a regular press briefing.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2021