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Biden threatens China over Taiwan

This combination of pictures created on November 15, 2021 shows China's President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the eve of China's National Day on September 30, 2021 and US President Joe Biden in the Memorial Amphitheater, at Arlington National Cemetary in Arlington, Virginia on November 11, 2021.

The sour relations between China and the US are back on the front burner. The US President Joe Biden has angered China by his belligerent remarks over Chinese Taipei saying that he would be willing to use force to militarily defend Chinese Taipei if Beijing invades the self ruled Island.

Biden made the remarks and Japan's capital Tokyo. He accused China of flirting with danger by flying so close to Chinese Taipei. He promised Washington would defend the island from any military action by its giant neighbor.

The blunt remarks by Biden have been interpreted as raising tensions with China. Many past American presidents would have deflected demurred or declined to give a straight answer.

Well, in this case, the US is trying to test the ground with China, is trying to provoke and see the reaction (this) is why you have first Joe Biden saying something and then you have the White House saying the opposite and they keep on doing that over and over. Taiwan is a red line for China.

Angelo Giuliano, Financial and Political Analyst

It could be that the US under Joe Biden has abandoned its strategic ambiguity over Taiwan. The aim of that policy had been to ward off China from taking military action without the US committing itself to a war. A White House official said Biden's comments did not reflect a policy shift.

After the Communist Party seized power in mainland China in 1949, the US refused to recognize it as the rightful government in China, instead, the US had an embassy in Taipei.

In the 1970s, Washington and Beijing decided to establish formal ties in a bid to create a counterbalance to the Soviet Union. And at the start of 1979, the US gave formal diplomatic recognition to the communist run People's Republic of China and cut ties with Taipei.

In doing so Washington recognized the PRC as the sole legal government Of China. It also acknowledged Beijing's position that there's only one China and that Taipei is a part of it.

Well, this is the usual divide and conquer strategy the US Empire and before US Empire, British Empire, used to do that over and over was how It can divide and conquer. So Asians are not stupid. They are very smart. They know that the US is trying to use them.

Angelo Giuliano, Financial and Political Analyst

After the US cut off formal relations with Taipei, Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act which has underpinned US ties toward the island ever since.

Reaction from China was swift when it came to the US threatening China militarily.

Beijing has warned Washington against playing with fire after President Joe Biden vowed to defend the self ruled island of Taiwan militarily in the event of a Chinese attack.

We deplore and reject the US remarks; Taiwan is an inevitable part of the Chinese territory. Taiwan issue is purely China's internal affair, which won't stand for any foreign interference.

Issues bearing on China's core interests, including the sovereignty and territorial integrity, there is no room for compromise or concession. No one should underestimate the Chinese People's firm resolution, will, and capability to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and should not stand against the 1.4 billion Chinese people.

Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson

The Chinese state Council's Taiwan affairs office on Monday accused the US of using the Taiwan card to contain China warning that it will itself get burned.

China's foreign ministry has said that Beijing was ready to defend its national interests over Taiwan. China considers Chinese Taipei as a breakaway province that should be reunited with the mainland under the internationally recognized one China policy.

For China, the red line would be Taiwan to declare independence, which is practically pretty much impossible because Taiwan would have to amend its constitution.

Another redline would be to have US troops in Taiwan or to have missiles aimed at China. So it is just the usual provocation and they try gradually to push more and more to have a Chinese reaction.

Angelo Giuliano, Financial and Political Analyst

The sovereignty is subject to international recognition, including by the US, but in violation of its stated policy and in an attempt to irritate Beijing, Washington has recently ramped up diplomatic contacts with the self proclaimed government to Chinese Taipei.

Washington is also the island's largest weapons supplier. Relations between China and the US have been strained in recent years, with the world's two largest economies, clashing over a range of issues such as technology, trade, and Chinese Taipei.

In recent years, the US has made China a top priority. The policy known as the pivot to Asia strategy was unveiled during former US President Barack Obama's administration and made East Asia, China in particular, a top priority for US foreign policy. Meanwhile, the Trump administration upped the ante against China even more, especially with regard to trade.

 


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