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People's Liberation Army military exercise in April 2018
Photo: CHINA STRINGER NETWORK/ REUTERS
How will the US react if China attacks Taiwan militarily?
In an interview with Taiwan, US President Joe Biden again assured Taiwan that the US would provide military support in the event of a Chinese war of aggression against the island nation.
Biden's statements are unlikely to ease the conflict between China and Taiwan.
The People's Liberation Army also flown nine military planes near Taiwan on Monday.
Four of them crossed the so-called median line, which divides the Taiwan Strait in two.
In addition, five Chinese Navy ships approached the Taiwanese coast.
This was announced by the Ministry of Defense in Taipei.
Such maneuvers have been taking place almost daily since the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in early August.
Last Friday, for example, 43 military planes and five PLA ships were underway near Taiwan.
Biden had pledged US intervention in the event of a Chinese invasion
In a television interview on CBS' 60 Minutes, when asked whether US forces would defend Taiwan, Biden replied, "Yes, if an unprecedented attack actually took place." A White House spokesman emphasized later, however, the US government's Taiwan policy has not changed.
China also formally reacted sharply to Biden's statements.
These are a "serious violation" of the US commitment "not to support Taiwan's independence," according to the State Department in Beijing.
Biden made similar statements during a visit to Japan in May.
At the time, he said the US had "an obligation" to stand by Taiwan in the event of an attack.
He later stressed that the US policy of "strategic ambiguity" in dealings with China and Taiwan had not changed.
China is striving for “peaceful reunification”.
China's Foreign Ministry said Beijing would make "best efforts" to strive for the "goal of peaceful reunification" with Taiwan.
However, China will "never tolerate activities aimed at splitting the country" and reserves the right to take "all necessary measures".
The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the other hand, expressed its "sincere gratitude" to Biden.
Taipei will continue to develop its "self-defense capability" in order to "resolutely oppose" the "expansion and aggression of China's authoritarianism."
At the same time, the government will deepen the “close security partnership between Taiwan and the United States”.
US supports Taiwan in expanding its armed forces
The US has long pursued a line of "strategic ambiguity" on the Taiwan issue.
The United States has assured Taiwan of support in building up its defense capabilities, but has not explicitly promised to come to the island's military aid in the event of war.
Beijing sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that should be reunited with the mainland - if necessary with military force.
While the US has recognized leadership in Beijing as China's sole government since 1979, it also supports Taiwan.
Biden said in the interview with CBS that he had warned Chinese President Xi Jinping not to support Russia in his war of aggression against Ukraine.
He told Xi this would result in the withdrawal of foreign investment from China.
Tensions between China and the United States have escalated significantly in recent weeks.
Pelosi's visit in early August was taken as an affront in Beijing.
Last week, a US Senate committee also cleared the way for a vote on billions of dollars in military aid to Taiwan and further formalizing US-Taiwan relations.
col/AFP/Reuters