U.S. forces would defend Taiwan against Chinese attack, Biden says

U.S. forces would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion, President Joe Biden said Sunday, his clearest statement yet on the issue.

U.S. forces would defend Taiwan if China invaded, President Joe Biden said Sunday, his clearest statement yet on the issue and one criticized by Beijing as a violation of longstanding U.S. policy.

In a “60 Minutes” interview broadcast on CBS, Biden was asked whether the U.S. would defend Taiwan against an attack from Beijing, which claims the self-ruling island democracy as its territory.

“Yes, if in fact there was an unprecedented attack,” he said.

The president said “yes” when he was asked whether he meant that, unlike in Ukraine, U.S. forces would come to Taiwan’s defense.

It is at least the fourth time since last year that Biden has made comments that appear to alter longtime U.S. policy on Taiwan. Since it established diplomatic relations with China in 1979, the U.S. has recognized Beijing as the sole legitimate government of China while maintaining unofficial relations with Taiwan.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/joe-biden-china-us-forces-defend-taiwan-rcna48271

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