President Joe Biden stated on”60 Minutes” that U.S. military forces would protect Taiwan if there were “an unprecedented attack” from China.
Anchor Scott Pelley said, “On the same day that we spoke to the President, Putin had a meeting with China's president Xi Jinping. There's a concern that Russia's efforts to force the reunification of Ukraine could lead China to take on Taiwan. U.S. policy since 1979 has been to acknowledge Taiwan as a part of China but has remained silent about how the U.S. military would defend Taiwan's democratically elected government. This is just one of the places where our conversation reaches controversy.”
Pelley requested, “What should Chinese President Xi know about your commitment to Taiwan?”
Biden stated, “We agree with what we agreed to in the past. Also, there's the One China policy, and Taiwan is able to make their own decisions about their autonomy. We're not making any changes. We're not encouraging them to be self-sufficient. It's their choice.”
Pelley told me, “But would U.S. forces defend the Island?”
Biden stated, “Yes, if, in fact, there was an unprecedented attack.”
Pelley stated, “After our interview, the White House official told us U.S. policy has not changed. In official terms there is no change in policy. The U.S. will not say whether American forces will be able to protect Taiwan. But the commander in chief had an opinion that he believed was his.”
Pelley said, “So, unlike Ukraine, to be clear, sir, U.S. forces, U.S. men and women would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion?”
Biden said, “Yes.”
