Biden vows to protect Taiwan, China reacts with warning

Taiwan warns: China would be ready for invasion in 2025 2:51

Baltimore (CNN) -

President Joe Biden said Thursday that the United States is committed to coming to Taiwan's defense against a possible attack by China, a stance that appears to run counter to the US's declared policy of "strategic ambiguity." .

Biden's words elicited appreciation from the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs but also China's warning to the United States not to send "any wrong signal to the separatist forces of Taiwanese independence."

When asked twice during the CNN forum whether the US would protect Taiwan if China attacks, Biden said it would.

"Yes, we are committed to doing so," he said.

Biden made similar statements in the past, only for the White House to say that long-standing American policy had not changed toward the island.

The United States provides Taiwan with defensive weapons, but has been intentionally ambiguous about whether it would intervene militarily in the event of a Chinese attack.

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Under the "one China" policy, the United States recognizes China's claim to sovereignty over Taiwan.

In recent weeks, Beijing sent dozens of warplanes near Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), and Chinese President Xi Jinping said "reunification" between China and Taiwan was inevitable.

China escalates tension with Taiwan with warplanes 2:38

A White House official tried to clarify Biden's comments on Taiwan after the forum.

He said the president "was not announcing any change in our policy and there is no change in our policy" in his comments on China and Taiwan.

China's warning

Following Biden's remarks, China's Foreign Ministry on Friday warned the United States not to send "any wrong signal to the separatist forces for Taiwan's independence."

"China urges the US to strictly abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the Three China-US Joint Communiqués, to be cautious in its words and actions on the Taiwan issue, and to refrain from sending any wrong signal to the separatist forces of Taiwan independence, so as not to seriously damage China-US relations, peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, "said Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin , at a regular briefing in Beijing this Friday.

• Global Challenges: China's Menacing "Panda Hug" to Taiwan

The United States supplies Taiwan with defensive weapons, but has been intentionally vague about whether it would intervene militarily in the event of a Chinese offensive.

"Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. The Taiwan issue is purely China's internal affair, and no foreign or foreign interference is tolerated," Wang told reporters.

China could use military force to control Taiwan 1:57

"On issues that affect China's fundamental interests, such as sovereignty and territorial integrity, China has no room for compromise. No one should underestimate the determination of the Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity or oppose them. 1.4 billion Chinese, "he added.

Taiwan thanks Biden and says it will defend its democracy and freedom

The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked Joe Biden for his statements on Friday regarding the United States' commitment to protect the autonomous island from an eventual attack by China.

"Our government will continue to strengthen our self-defense capabilities to fully defend Taiwan's democracy ... national security and the well-being of the people," a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.

CNN's Eric Cheung, Caitlin McGee, and Hannah Ritchie contributed to this report.

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