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Monday, January 15th, 2024

U.S. does not support Taiwan independence, Biden says

Author:     Steve Holland, Nandita Bose and Trevor Hunnicutt
Source:     Reuters
Publication Date:     January 13, 2024 | 8:36 PM PST
 Link: U.S. does not support Taiwan independence, Biden says
Stephan:  

I am surprised this was not a bigger story in the corporate media, but it was not. Biden doesn’t support Taiwan’s independence but he does pledge to defend Taiwan against an attack from China, a U.S. position of “strategic ambiguity” dating back to Carter’s administration. Given what has happened in Ukraine, it is a position for a future crisis, should China attempt to take Taiwan over.

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U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to the press, Credit: Leah Millis /  Reuters

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. President Joe Biden said on Saturday the United States does not support the independence of Taiwan, after Taiwanese voters rebuffed China and gave the ruling party a third presidential term.

Earlier in the day, the Taiwanese ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te came to power, strongly rejecting Chinese pressure to spurn him, and pledged both to stand up to Beijing and seek talks.

“We do not support independence…” Biden said, when asked for reaction to Saturday’s elections.

The United States switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979 and has long said it does not support a formal declaration of independence by Taiwan. It does, however, maintain unofficial relations with the self-governed island and remains its most important backer and arms supplier.

Beijing, which has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, fears that Lai could declare the establishment of a Republic of Taiwan, which Lai has said he will not do.

Biden has previously […]

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