President Joe Biden issued a renewed warning to China over Taiwan in an interview published Tuesday, saying the U.S. military could be used to defend the self-ruled democratic island in the event of a Chinese invasion.
It is not the first time Biden has touched on the possibility, but China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, will likely criticize his statement as in the past. Asked during the interview with Time magazine whether the U.S. stance could result in boots on the ground, he said, "It would depend on the circumstances."
Biden said he has made clear to Chinese President Xi Jinping the long-standing policy under which Washington refrains from seeking independence for Taiwan but would stand behind the island if Beijing tried to change the status quo, adding, "We've been in consultation with our allies in the region."
"Not ruling out using U.S. military force. There's a distinction between deploying on the ground, air power and naval power," he said in the magazine's exclusive interview, conducted at the White House on May 28, which centered on American leadership in a changing world.
Biden stopped short of saying if the U.S. military would launch strikes from its bases in Japan or the Philippines. He said, "I can't get into that. You would then criticize me with good reason if I were to tell you."
U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns has said Xi instructed his country's military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027.
Taiwan remains a major source of contention between the United States and China, even as Biden and Xi have agreed to ease tensions stemming from geopolitical rivalry and intense economic competition.
The United States has maintained unofficial relations with Taiwan even after changing its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. It also supplies the island with arms to maintain sufficient self-defense capabilities.
On the economic front, too, Biden made some comments that are likely to provoke a vociferous reaction from China.
Citing reasons such as China's aging population, he said, "Where is it going to grow? You've got an economy that's on the brink there. The idea that their economy is booming? Give me a break."
Biden went on to say that Xi's signature Belt and Road global infrastructure drive has become a "nuisance graveyard initiative."
He reiterated in the interview that expanding cooperation with its decades-old European and Asian allies, as well as strengthening relations with developing countries, will be critical in maintaining U.S. leadership in the international community.
On Japan, Biden said he was able to convince Tokyo that Washington is "not walking away from" its key Asian ally.
"Because Japan, collected with us, is a source of great economic strength and stability, physical stability for both of us," he said.
