This is not the first time Biden has contradicted his administration on Taiwan.
During an interview on ’60 Minutes’ this week, Biden said that American soldiers would defend Taiwan from an invasion by China. It was shocking that Biden said this out loud, and the White House quickly walked back his comments.Biden tells 60 Minutes U.S. troops would defend Taiwan, but White House says this is not official U.S. policy
Last Thursday, the same day 60 Minutes spoke to President Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin met with China’s leader, Xi Jinping. There’s concern that Russia’s war in Ukraine could inspire China to attack the island of Taiwan. U.S. policy since 1979 has been to recognize Taiwan as part of China, but remain silent on whether the U.S. military would defend the democratic government there. 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley asked Mr. Biden about that.
“So unlike Ukraine, to be clear, sir,” Pelley said, “U.S. forces, U.S. men and women would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion?”