U.S. President Joe Biden has delivered another broadside to Beijing on its most sensitive issue, saying he was “not ruling out using U.S. military force” in response to a potential Chinese invasion of democratic Taiwan.
Asked in an interview with Time magazine published Tuesday if the United States would defend Taiwan under such a scenario, the U.S. leader noted “a distinction between deploying on the ground, air power and naval power," but said the response “ would depend on the circumstances.”
Biden said he has “made clear” to Chinese President Xi Jinping long-standing U.S. policy that refrains from endorsing Taiwanese independence, but added that he would defend the island “if China unilaterally tries to change" the status quo, adding that Washington has “been in consultation" with its allies in the region.