China warns against ‘wrong signals’ as Biden suggests US would defend Taiwan

China has urged the US to “avoid sending any wrong signals” after President Joe Biden for a second time in three months said the US would come to Taiwan’s defence if it was attacked. In both instances, the White House has clarified that there has been no change in US policy, which officially maintains so-called “strategic ambiguity” regarding Taiwan. Still, Biden’s words will rattle Beijing. China’s foreign ministry has “no room for concessions” when it comes to its core interests, its spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a daily news briefing, in the latest protest amid speculation about the future of Washington’s “strategic ambiguity” over Taiwan.

The democratically ruled island has complained of mounting military and political pressure from Beijing to accept Chinese sovereignty.

On Thursday at a CNN town hall meeting, Biden was asked if the US would come to the defence of Taiwan. “Yes, we have a commitment to do that,” he replied. Later a White House spokesperson said Biden was not announcing any change in US policy. “The US defence relationship with Taiwan is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act. We will uphold our commitment under the act, we will continue to support Taiwan’s self-defence, and we will continue to oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo,” the spokesperson said.

Read more