On Monday, President Joe Biden said the U.S. military would intervene if China attempted to forcibly overtake Taiwan. However, the White House said it doesn’t anticipate a change in U.S. policy. Biden stated that, while the U.S. agrees with the One China policy that acknowledges Taiwan to be part of China, the policy doesn’t acknowledge Beijing’s control of the island. While the U.S. has supplied weapons to Taiwan, it hasn’t made itself clear on whether it would militarily defend the island in a Chinese attack. Biden has been visiting various countries in Asia in efforts to unite them in the fight against China’s efforts to increase its powers with surrounding countries.
China responded by expressing “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition,” maintaining that it won’t tolerate meddling in its “internal affairs.” Xi Jinping maintains that “reunification” will occur between Taiwan and China. Tension has been high with the Chinese military’s war planes close to the island.
Biden also likened China’s potential invasion of Taiwan to Russia’s attack on Ukraine and continued with warnings against China, stating that efforts to forcibly shift the status quo will not be accepted.
Questions:
Why do you think Biden made such an unequivocal warning that surprised even his top administration officials?
Do you think the U.S. would intervene militarily in the circumstance of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan? Explain.
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/23/politics/biden-taiwan-china-japan-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.npr.org/2022/05/23/1100655012/biden-says-u-s-intervene-with-military-to-defend-taiwan
3 comments:
I think Biden made this announced due to the increasing military presence China has been conducting over Taiwan. Towards the end fo 2021, China was testing a hypersonic missile and was also conducting flight routes over the East China Sea. Additionally, tensions between Taiwan and China have been increasing, especially considering that China is strengthening its unification policy. For example, China has been heavily suppressing the uprisings occurring in Hong Kong since 2019 when large protests covered the city. I think another contributor to China wanting to re-control Taiwan is the recent election where the Democratic candidate won. As a result, China wants to suppress Taiwan's government power as much as possible. I doubt Biden's message will do much towards instigating a conflict between Taiwan and China. However, if China does use military forces, I think it's possible that the U.S. may supply resources and military aid because the U.S. has been a long time ally with Taiwan.
I think that Biden made this stance in order to apear tough against the Chinese, Though I am generally a political moderate I agree that it is the right choice. I think that China's place in the world must be questioned. Ideally China is sent back to the warlord era of seperate squabling warlord states (or like Yugoslavia or Sudan for a more modern example). A unified China has only so far been a burden for the rest of the world through its predatory economic stradegies in Africa leaving the region in contiunal poverty and its ongoing genocide of the Uighurs. Joe Biden is right to say that Taiwan must be defended. Furthermore I think Joe Biden can push for Taiwan to be reconized as a real country and even get a seat on the United Nations. Though I agree with setiments above that if war were to break out I think Joe Biden would not actually do anything unless there is a defense pact written and set into stone. I do hope however that Joe Biden does work further to secure interests in the far East and bring about a new era of American Hegemony in Asia. Hopefully if China is agressive enough more countries will align with America in order to secure interests of freedom and democracy across the globe.
I think Biden made such a warning due to China’s support for Russia during the recent military invasion of Ukraine. I think in light of China’s actions, Biden wants to issue a warning showing the U.S.'s continued support for Taiwan, due to their unofficial relationship. In addition, as the article stated, Biden is trying to clearly state his stance to prevent more invasions like the Russian-Ukrainian conflict from occurring. I think that the U.S. would not intervene militarily in the circumstance of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, however, they would offer support through resources and aim for a more peaceful solution to end the conflict/tension. The U.S. has also already approved potential sales for defense equipment and training to Taiwan which is evidence of its position in supporting Taiwan.
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