US Will Defend Taiwan Militarily If China Invades Nation, Says President Joe Biden

Speaking at a news conference in Tokyo ahead of the Quad Summit, Biden said China was flirting with danger in Taiwan by flying close to the island. 

US President Joe Biden talks to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during the Japan-US summit meeting

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New Delhi: In his strongest comments to date on the China-Taiwan tussle, US President Joe Biden on Monday said the US would send its military to defend Taiwan if China invaded the island nation. Speaking at a news conference in Tokyo ahead of the Quad Summit, Biden said China was flirting with danger in Taiwan by flying close to the island. 

"That's the commitment we made...We agreed with the One China policy, we signed on to it... but the idea that (Taiwan) can be taken by force is just not appropriate. It will dislocate the entire region and be another action similar to what happened in Ukraine," AFP quoted Biden as saying.

As per the "One China policy", US recognises the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate government of China and acknowledges, but doesn't endorse, Beijing's claim that Taiwan is a part of China. However, US has unofficial ties with Taiwan, including a de facto embassy in its capital Taipei.

The US president, however, played down the possibility that China would try to take Taiwan.

"My expectation is that it will not happen," Biden said, adding that it was important for world leaders to send a strong message that there would be consequences for such action.

Last year too Biden had said that the US would defend Taiwan if China attacked the nation. Then, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson responded by saying, "No one should underestimate the strong resolve, determination and capability of the Chinese people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. China has no room for compromise."

Raking up the Russian invasion of Ukraine in context of the China-Taiwan tussle, Biden said China was watching to see if Western pressure on Russia slacks off.

"Russia has to pay a long-term price for its barbarism in Ukraine. It is important that Putin pay a price for his barbarism in Ukraine. This is not just about Ukraine, because China is watching to see if Western pressure on Russia slacks off. What signal does that send to China about the cost of... attempting to take Taiwan by force?" he asked.

Biden said China does not have "jurisdiction to take Taiwan by force".

(With inputs from agencies)