Biden’s seven words about Taiwan that will enrage Beijing

China has responded strongly after Joe Biden said the US would defend Taiwan, warning the world not to underestimate its strength.

China has pushed back onUS President Joe Biden after his comments during a town hall that the United States would defend Taiwan if it was attacked.

In a briefing on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin asserted that Taiwan was under China’s control, adding that there was “no compromise on the issue.”

“When it comes to issues related to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and other core interests, there is no room for China to compromise or make concessions, and no one should underestimate the strong determination, firm will and strong ability of the Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” MrWang said, according to AP.

During a CNN town hall on Thursday, Mr Biden suggested that he was not concerned about an attack by China.

US President Joe Biden at a CNN town hall in Baltimore. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)

He dismissed the idea that he wants to start “a new Cold War” with China.

“I don’t want a Cold War with China. I just want to make China understand that we are not going to step back. We are not going to change any of our views,” he said.

When directly asked on whether the US would defend Taiwan if China attacked, Mr Biden said “yes, we have a commitment to do that.”

Thiose seven words runs the risk of reversing decades of deliberately ambiguous language designed specifically not to anger Beijing.

Taiwan, which lies off the coast of the Chinese mainland, is claimed by Beijing as a breakaway province. But the democratic nation of 24 million people has never been ruled by Communist China and has been essentially independent for more than 60 years

America’s ‘strategic ambiguity’ over Taiwan

The comments are at odds with official US policy on Taiwan which is one of “strategic ambiguity” where it nether confirms nor denies it would defend the island state.

In order to appease Beijing, the US’s “One China” policy means it has no official diplomatic relations with Taiwan although it does have an office on the island. It also doesn’t have a military pact with Taiwan, unlike Japan and South Korea.

The Taiwan Relations Act does state that the US can sell arms to the nation, chiefly so the island can defend itself.

Beijing has yet to respond to Mr Biden’s comments but is almost certain to be furious at the President’s apparent firming of support for Taiwan.

Earlier this month, China’s President Xi Jinping said “reunification” with Taiwan “must be fulfilled”.

Preferably that would be in a “peaceful manner” but “no one should underestimate the Chinese people’s staunch determination, firm will, and strong ability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

China has regularly sent waves of bombers into Taiwan’s air defence zone.

Taiwan has never declared independence. But in July, Mr Xi said any attempt by Taiwan to do so must be “smashed”.

US President Joe Biden (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The US’ policy on Taiwan is one of “strategic ambiguity”. (Photos by MANDEL NGAN and Anthony WALLACE / AFP)

China’s ‘red line’ on Taiwan

Anything, however small, perceived as international recognition of Taiwan is met with a furious response from Beijing.

In 2018, airline Qantas agreed to remove Taiwan from a drop down menu of countries on its website after pressure from Beijing.

Lithuania, population 3 million, was told this year by China that it had crossed a “red line” after a decision to open a “Taiwanese representative office”. The office was not a full embassy but Beijing was angry nonetheless as it referred to “Taiwan” in the name.

This week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said issues relating to Taiwan were “China’s internal affairs that brook no foreign interference”.

A Taiwanese F-16 fighter jet flying next to a Chinese H-6 bomber (top) off the coast of Taiwan. (Photo by Handout / Taiwan's Defence Ministry / AFP)

He added that: “The One China principle is a political foundation of China-US relations and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory”.

In an apparent attempt to quell Beijing’s fury, a White House spokesman later said that the President’s remarks in Baltinore did not signify any change in policy, reported CNN.

“The US defence relationship with Taiwan is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act.

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

This isn’t the first time Mr Biden has seemingly been out of step with official US policy on Taiwan.

In August, he said the US has a “sacred commitment” to come to its allies’ aid in a military conflict.

“Same with Japan, same with South Korea … same with Taiwan”.