Biden’s Taiwan Policy Is the Most Dangerous Issue in China-US Relations

Source; Qi Weiqun, The Diplomat

One Liner Summary

Biden’s Press Conference;

• On May 23, Biden held a press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio
in Tokyo
• The agenda of conference was to show that he would defend Taiwan if the China Military
attacked on Taiwan
• White House and US Defense Secretary Lioyd Austin cleared that US position on Taiwan
has not changed
• Adheres to the One China Policy
• In Aug last year, Biden promised that the United States would respond if NATO member
countries were attacked
• Taiwan among the list of allies of United States, made a commitment to defend

Biden comments against Russian President

• Biden called Putin “butcher” and “war criminal”, denouncing the Russian Invasion of
Ukraine
• Like Ukraine, Taiwan is not a formal ally of the United States

Normalizing Relations With China

• US adopted “Strategic Ambiguity” on Taiwan Issue

• On the one hand, Washington promised to abide by the “One China Policy”
• Does not have a formal relationship with the government on Taiwan
• On the other hand, Washington has continuously provide military assistance to Taiwan
➢ To help boost defence
➢ Establish informal communication at the official and unofficial level

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• Reason for the United States to engage in Taiwan Issue
➢ Sino-U.S. Joint Communiques
➢ Taiwan Relations Act are two fundamentals pacts
1. In March 2018, U.S. Congress passed the Taiwan Travel Act
➢ Opening the door for the exchange of officials visits between the United States and
Taiwan
• Officials visits
➢ In August 2020, U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar arrived in Taiwan, the highest
level American Officials to visit Taiwan
➢ In Trump Administration, Under Secretary of State Keith Krach to Taiwan in
September 2020, the highest level representative from the U.S. State Department
to visit
• Taiwan Assurance Act
➢ U.S. sold $ 18.3 billion worth of arms to Taiwan in 11 separate packages
➢ In the last month of Trump’s administration, U.S signed Taiwan Assurance Act
to normalize arms sales to Taiwan
➢ In Biden Administration, he maintained the high-profile involvement of the
U.S. in Taiwan Strait affairs
➢ Supported Taiwan militarily
➢ Further enhance the official level exchanges between the two sides
➢ On this basis, U.S. has pushed to include Taiwan issue in Japan- U.S. security
agreement
➢ Which was shown clearly by the joint statements after the 2021 and 2022
meetings with Japan
➢ Attended by U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinkon and Secretary of Defense
Austin along with their Japanese counterparts
➢ So Biden’s statements reflects that U.S has been constantly testing China’s
bottom line on Taiwan Strait issue
➢ This is the most dangerous factor for both China- U.S. relations and the regional
security situation
• China’s Economic, Military and Naval Strength

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 ➢ With the growth of China’s economic and military strengths, it is important
for Beijing to protect its core interests
➢ Solving the Taiwan issue and achieving reunification
❖ Purpose of U.S
▪ For the sake of maintaining its own hegemony
▪ Seek to obstruct China’s plan
▪ Long-term strategy of U.S. to contain China’s forces within the first
island chain
▪ Likely to make Taiwan the focus of the great power competition
between China and the United States
• China’s Naval Strength
➢ China expanding its naval strength and gradually breaking the advantage of
U.S. in the sea
➢ In the past 20 years, China’s navy has tripled
➢ Total tonnage of more than 2.3 million tons
➢ Second only to the 3.53 million tons of U.S. Navy
➢ PLA Navy’s total number of ships has reached 360, surpassing the 300 of the
U.S. Navy and ranking 1st in the world
➢ According to Pentagon Report , Chinese Navy has outperformed the U.S. Navy
➢ In shipbuilding, conventional ballistic and cruise missiles, and integrated Air
defense systems
➢ These indicators are the key to determine the situation in the Taiwan Strait
• Reason of U.S. strong anxiety
➢ Given China’s growing military strength
➢ Because of this anxiety, US has been playing games with China on the Taiwan
Strait issue
➢ Key to China-U.S. strategic competition
• Biden’s Foreign Policy
➢ President Biden administration faced great pressure both from the Russia-
Ukraine war & political change in Afghanistan

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 ➢ Taliban controlled on Kabul and Russian Invasion, both incidents le Biden’s
foreign policy being criticized
➢ US performance on Afghanistan and Ukraine create a losing trust by its allies
➢ Therefore, Biden’s administration wants to defend Taiwan reestablish the
assurance of it
➢ Biden’s rating has dropped by 39% as mid-term elections will be end of this
year
➢ As Biden said once he took office, it is not possible China will outperform
during his term
➢ Therefore, strategic competition with China is the top priority of the US

Conclusin:

US strategy towards Taiwan has not changed claimed by US Officials. On the

one hand, Washington maintain strategic relationship with China without
speaking against One China Policy. On the other hand, Washington defend
Taiwan. This fuzzy strategy is more beneficial to US. As far as, China’s concern,
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin gave a blunt response.
“For our friends, we have fine wine. For our jackals or wolves, we welcome
with shotguns”. China’s timely and powerful response shows how sensitive that
Taiwan issue is, and how dangerous any provocations can be.