Biden: "We Will Defend Taiwan If Attacked"… Policy Shift or Mistake?

Emphasizing Defense Commitment Among Mutual Defense Treaty Countries Including Korea, Japan, and Europe
Indicating Intervention if China Attacks Taiwan Without Defense Treaty
Overturning Existing U.S. 'Strategic Ambiguity' Policy
Senior Official "No Policy Change" · Expert "Slip of the Tongue"

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President Joe Biden has confirmed the collective defense commitments to South Korea, Japan, and Europe while mentioning Taiwan, sparking widespread controversy.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

It is natural that the U.S. would intervene if South Korea, with which a collective defense treaty has been signed, is attacked by North Korea, but intense attention is focused on whether the U.S. policy to apply the same standard to Taiwan, with which there is no treaty relationship, represents a strategic shift or a slip of the tongue.

On the 19th (local time), President Biden emphasized in an interview with ABC News, "There is a fundamental difference between (Afghanistan) and Taiwan, South Korea, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)."

He described these governments as countries that "honestly try to prevent bad guys from doing bad things to them."

This contrasts with Biden’s statement that "we will not sacrifice where U.S. interests are not involved" and his remark that the Afghan government was a corrupt country that could not protect itself. It implies support for countries capable of self-defense.

President Biden defended the decision to withdraw U.S. troops during a speech on the collapse of Afghanistan, emphasizing American interests and raising concerns among allies.

After Biden’s remarks sparked controversy, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan explained that South Korea, Europe, and Taiwan are different from Afghanistan and that there would be no U.S. troop withdrawal or reduction. However, as President Biden reiterated the same view, it is believed he aimed to allay allied anxieties.

Although the remarks were intended to ease allied concerns, the Taiwan issue surfaced this time.

President Biden reaffirmed U.S. defense commitments to these countries by referring to 'Article Five,' which signifies collective defense. This is the clause stating that if countries with mutual defense treaties such as NATO and Japan are attacked, the U.S. will automatically intervene.

The South Korea-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty contains the same provision.

President Biden said emphatically, "If anyone invades a NATO ally or takes adverse actions, we will respond," adding, " the same applies to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan."

After the Afghan government was overtaken by the Islamic militant group Taliban, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen stated that "Taiwan must strengthen itself," local media reported on the 19th. Tsai, chairperson of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, emphasized this during the party's Central Standing Committee meeting the previous day while referring to the changing situation in Afghanistan. The photo shows President Tsai delivering a speech during her visit to the naval fleet in southern Keelung last March. [Image source=Yonhap News]

By mentioning South Korea and Taiwan, President Biden demonstrated a strong willingness for immediate U.S. intervention if attacked by North Korea or China.

The problem lies with Taiwan. The U.S. has no obligation to collectively defend Taiwan. Due to U.S.-China diplomatic normalization, Article Five, which signifies collective defense, no longer applies between Taiwan and the U.S.

Unlike South Korea, Europe, and Japan, U.S. troops are not stationed in Taiwan. There is no embassy, nor formal diplomatic relations, but the U.S. president’s affirmation that Taiwan is a defense target is considered significant.

This is notable as it warns that if China attacks Taiwan amid worsening U.S.-China tensions, a war between the U.S. and China could break out.

Coincidentally, on the same day, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen emphasized Taiwan’s own defense will by stating, "Taiwan must become stronger on its own."

Conservative media Washington Examiner interpreted Biden’s remarks as a counterattack after Chinese state media blamed the U.S. for the collapse of the Afghan government and claimed Taiwan would suffer the same fate as Afghanistan.

The strategy that the U.S. would respond immediately if China attacks Taiwan is not traditional U.S. policy.

Since establishing diplomatic relations with China, the U.S. has provided defensive weapons to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act, a domestic law rather than an international treaty, following the 'One China' principle, but has maintained a policy of 'strategic ambiguity' regarding direct defense of Taiwan.

A senior U.S. government official said regarding President Biden’s remarks, "The U.S. policy on Taiwan has not changed." This means maintaining the existing policy of 'strategic ambiguity.'

Boni Glaser, a Taiwan expert at the think tank Marshall Fund, described President Biden’s remarks as a mistake and said, "It is regrettable."

Recently, the Council on Foreign Relations also argued that the U.S. should clearly state its policy to defend Taiwan if China invades.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.