Biden insisted that the strategic ambiguity of Taiwan’s security had not changed

U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday there has been no change in the strategic ambiguity that the United States has pursued for years when it comes to military protection of Taiwan. There is disagreement over whether U.S. leaders’ repeated statements that appear to change policy are quickly followed by clarifications that the policy remains unchanged will help deter Beijing’s military assault on Taiwan.

Biden, speaking with reporters after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo a day earlier, said he would be open to U.S. military intervention to defend Taiwan. The statement was widely seen as at odds with the long-standing strategic ambiguity of the US policy on the issue and has drawn intense attention on both sides of the Pacific.

But Biden, still on a visit to Tokyo, was asked Tuesday whether the U.S. policy of strategic ambiguity toward Taiwan was over, and he said simply, “No.”

The reporter asked again, “Can you explain?” The president said, “No.”

Another reporter asked whether China would send troops to Taiwan if it invaded Taiwan. Biden did not answer directly. “The policy has not changed at all. I said that in my speech yesterday.”

In October, Biden said during a live interview with the public that the United States was committed to defending Taiwan. A day later, a White House spokesman said the president had not announced a change in U.S. policy on Taiwan.

Some suggested that Mr. Biden had misspoken on both occasions.

Some defense experts said Mr. Biden’s two comments that the U.S. would take military action to defend Taiwan suggested that U.S. leaders may indeed intend to do so, even if official public policy has not changed.

Taiwan expert Gloria Glaser, director of the Asian program at the German Marshall Fund, said the Biden administration should elaborate on the policy, given biden’s two controversial statements.

“Senior Biden administration officials should elaborate on U.S. Policy toward Taiwan,” she tweeted. Confusion resulting from misrepresentation of policy is more likely to damage deterrence than strengthen it.”

America’s defence secretary, Austin and the joint chiefs of staff chairman admiral Ed on Monday at a news conference at the pentagon, asked whether the speech of President biden about defend Taiwan means the United States pledged to send troops to defend Taiwan, like the two defense officials did not answer directly, but quoted the words of President Joe biden, did not change the policy of the United States.
Asked about the potential risks to the U.S. military if it were to intervene militarily to defend Taiwan, General Milley said the U.S. military has a number of contingency plans in the Pacific, but they are highly classified information and he would not discuss them publicly before microphones.

At a regular news briefing Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin expressed “strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition” to the U.S. president’s remarks on Taiwan, saying There is no room for China to compromise on issues concerning its core interests of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Beijing has long insisted that Taiwan is a province awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.