Biden says U.S. willing to use force to defend Taiwan — prompting backlash from China

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• When asked at a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida whether the U.S. would be prepared to defend Taiwan if attacked, Biden replied, “Yes.”
  
• Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry thanked Biden for reaffirming U.S. support if Beijing invaded the island.
  
• However, China’s Foreign Ministry said the U.S. should not defend Taiwan independence, Reuters reported.
  

U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday said he would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan, prompting thanks from the democratic, self-ruled island — but sharp criticism from China.

When asked at a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida whether the U.S. would be prepared to defend Taiwan if attacked, Biden replied, “Yes.”

“That’s the commitment we made,” Biden said. “We agree with the ‘one China’ policy. We signed on to it. All the attendant agreements [were] made from there. But the idea that that can be taken by force, just taken by force. It’s just not, it’s just not appropriate.”

On his first trip to Japan since taking office, Biden said it was not his expectation that such an event would happen or be attempted.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry thanked Biden for reaffirming U.S. support for the island if Beijing invaded.

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