Would the U.S. defend Taiwan if China invades? Biden said yes. But it's complicated
President Biden has said the U.S. is committed to defending Taiwan, but Washington has traditionally stayed strategically ambiguous. Here's why.
This week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on countries to support Taiwan's participation in the United Nations. The self-governed island has not been a member of the body since October 1971, when the U.N. gave Beijing a seat at the table and removed Taiwan.
"Taiwan's meaningful participation in the UN system is not a political issue, but a pragmatic one," Blinken said, citing its democracy, transparency, respect for human rights and the rule of law, and importance to the global high-tech economy.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian begged to differ. He" the agreements that underpin China-U.S. relations and America's own commitments.
