{"id":1491241,"date":"2022-05-25T08:17:18","date_gmt":"2022-05-25T12:17:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1491241"},"modified":"2022-05-25T08:17:47","modified_gmt":"2022-05-25T12:17:47","slug":"why-bidens-contradictions-on-taiwan-are-dangerous","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-bidens-contradictions-on-taiwan-are-dangerous\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Biden\u2019s Contradictions On Taiwan Are Dangerous"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhy-bidens-contradictions-on-taiwan-are-dangerous%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1491241&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><\/div>\n<p>During his first trip to Asia as the U.S. president, Joe Biden\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/biden-says-u-s-would-intervene-militarily-if-china-invaded-taiwan-11653286228?mod=hp_lead_pos1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a>\u00a0the U.S. military would defend Taiwan if China invaded the island. His comment became headline news worldwide as many interpreted it as a significant U.S. foreign policy change. <\/p>\n<p>Yet, as so often, White House officials immediately\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/news.yahoo.com\/white-house-repeats-no-taiwan-203527475.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">clarified<\/a>\u00a0the president\u2019s comment and insisted that there was no U.S. policy change regarding Taiwan. This is the third time White House staff have backpedaled after President Biden\u2019s comments on Taiwan.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2021\/aug\/20\/biden-taiwan-china-us-defence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">interview with ABC News<\/a>\u00a0in August and at a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/joe-biden-misspeaks-taiwan-again-white-house-clarification-china-1641498\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CNN town hall event<\/a>\u00a0in October 2021, Biden made similar comments, suggesting the United States would defend Taiwan against China. Each time, senior administration officials immediately contradicted Biden by stating that the U.S. government\u2019s policy concerning Taiwan \u201chas not changed.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Such contradictions have raised questions, including who is in charge of U.S. policy on Taiwan and what that policy is. The lack of clarity on these questions is precarious, and not just for the future of Taiwan.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Historically, the U.S. government has followed a policy of \u201cstrategic ambiguity\u201d created by the 1979\u00a0 Taiwan Relations Act. That doesn\u2019t guarantee the U.S. defense of Taiwan in the event of Communist China\u2019s invasion, but it doesn\u2019t rule out U.S. involvement in defending Taiwan either.<\/p>\n<h2>China\u2019s Clear Views on Taiwan<\/h2>\n<p>In contrast to Washington\u2019s ambiguity, Communist China has always been crystal clear about its intention toward Taiwan. Beijing insists there is one China led by the Communist Party and that Taiwan is a province of China. Beijing has vowed that it will never allow Taiwan to become independent. China\u2019s current leader Xi Jinping\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-asia-china-58854081\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sees<\/a>\u00a0the \u201creunification\u201d with Taiwan as a legacy that he will make happen by any means necessary, including the use of force.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Under Xi\u2019s leadership, Communist China has made astonishing progress in military preparations for a possible invasion of Taiwan. The People\u2019s Liberation Army (PLA) has built the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2021\/03\/05\/china\/china-world-biggest-navy-intl-hnk-ml-dst\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">world\u2019s largest navy<\/a>, measured by fleet size. China constructed artificial islands in the South China Sea and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2022\/mar\/21\/china-has-fully-militarized-three-islands-in-south-china-sea-us-admiral-says\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">militarized some of them<\/a>\u00a0with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming equipment, and fighter jets. Clearly, China intends to use these militarized islands to disrupt any foreign military aid to Taiwan in the event of invasion.<\/p>\n<p>With growing military power, China has increased pressure on Taiwan. Since 2020, the PLA has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/10\/04\/china-sends-nearly-150-military-flights-over-taiwan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sent military aircraft into Taiwan\u2019s Air Defense Zone<\/a>, sometimes on a weekly or even a daily basis. Additionally, the PLA has conducted several <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2021\/04\/07\/asia\/china-taiwan-military-surrounded-intl-hnk-scli-ml\/index.html\">military exercises<\/a> near Taiwan, with the most <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/05\/09\/china-conducts-military-drills-near-taiwan-involving-air-forces\/\">recent one<\/a> earlier this month. Each exercise amounted to a full-scale rehearsal of an invasion of Taiwan. The U.S. government\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/10\/04\/china-sends-nearly-150-military-flights-over-taiwan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a>\u00a0the PLA\u2019s provocation is \u201cdestabilizing, risks miscalculations, and undermines regional peace and stability.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>So far, China\u2019s military intimidation of Taiwan has been counter-productive.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ipdefenseforum.com\/2021\/02\/taiwan-poll-finds-citizens-identify-as-non-chinese\/\">Polls<\/a>\u00a0show that most Taiwanese don\u2019t identify as \u201cChinese\u201d and don\u2019t favor reunification with the main\u00adland. Still, everyone recognizes that Taiwan can\u2019t defend itself against China\u2019s invasion on its own.<\/p>\n<h2>Calls to Abandon \u2018Strategic Ambiguity\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>After Russia invaded Ukraine in February this year, many observers believed China\u2019s Xi might be motivated to attack Taiwan while the Russian military was keeping the West occupied. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rubio.senate.gov\/public\/index.cfm\/2022\/5\/rubio-introduces-taiwan-peace-through-strength-act\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">warned<\/a>\u00a0that \u201can invasion of Taiwan could happen within this decade.\u201d He introduced a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rubio.senate.gov\/public\/index.cfm\/2022\/5\/rubio-introduces-taiwan-peace-through-strength-act\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bill<\/a>\u00a0recently to \u201cincrease coordination between the U.S. and Taiwanese militaries to ensure Taiwan is equipped to defend against an attack and invasion by the People\u2019s Liberation Army (PLA).\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The calls for the United States to abandon \u201cstrategic ambiguity\u201d and offer Taiwan an explicit security guarantee have grown louder. Many pointed to China\u2019s military buildup, the expansion in the South China Sea, the brutal crackdown on Hong Kong\u2019s pro-democracy movement, and its increasing military pressures on Taiwan as evidence that China\u2019s aggression has become a threat to the peace and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region, affecting the U.S. and its allies\u2019 interests and security.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is one who has made this argument. He <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bizpacreview.com\/2022\/02\/27\/former-japan-pm-abe-calls-on-us-to-abandon-taiwan-defense-ambiguity-amid-ukraine-turmoil-1206433\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">called on<\/a>\u00a0the Biden administration to abandon the U.S. government\u2019s long-held \u201cstrategic ambiguity\u201d position on Taiwan and clarify that the United States would intervene if China invaded the island. Abe argued that \u201cstrategic clarity\u201d is the best deterrence strategy to prevent China from going to war with the United States and its allies over Taiwan.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Biden Administration Creating Confusion<\/h2>\n<p>Yet the Biden administration so far has created more confusion domestically and internationally rather than presenting any strategic clarity. Since day one, the Biden administration has stated it would continue the \u201cstrategic ambiguity\u201d policy toward Taiwan. But President Biden publicly declared several times that the U.S. military would help defend Taiwan in a Chinese invasion. Each time, senior administration officials immediately walked back Biden\u2019s comments as if he never meant what he said.<\/p>\n<p>There are three possible explanations. It could be that Biden\u2019s comments were indeed blunders, and there is no change of U.S. policy on Taiwan. It could also be that he did mean what he said, but his staff simply undermined his authority publicly to avoid antagonizing China. <\/p>\n<p>The third explanation is that the Biden administration has yet to formulate a clear China policy. It probably feels a <a href=\"https:\/\/curtis.house.gov\/press-releases\/rep-curtis-bipartisan-coalition-introduce-legislation-to-protect-taiwan-from-foreign-interference\/\">bipartisan pressure<\/a> to defend Taiwan but is war-weary and doesn\u2019t want to actually go to war with China. All of these explanations are dangerous, for three reasons.<\/p>\n<p>First, it signals to Beijing that U.S. political leadership is weak and has neither the ability nor the will to confront China. Second, it doesn\u2019t build confidence among U.S. allies. The Biden administration\u2019s policy confusion and perceived weakness may even convince some allies and partners to switch to China\u2019s side. <\/p>\n<p>Third, the Biden administration\u2019s policy confusion and perceived weakness have increased the risk of a conflict with China rather than deterring China. China\u2019s Xi may decide that the best time to invade Taiwan is when the United States is led by an aging politician who often appears confused. Xi can certainly strengthen his argument to his generals by pointing to America\u2019s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Richard Haass\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foreignaffairs.com\/articles\/china\/2021-12-13\/growing-danger-us-ambiguity-taiwan\">warned\u00a0<\/a>that \u201cHistorically, uncertainty regarding the other side\u2019s intentions has often been a major driver of instability and conflict.\u201d Therefore, to increase geopolitical stability and minimize the risk of conflict with China, the Biden administration must stop creating misunderstandings and confusion regarding its foreign policy concerning Taiwan.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If Biden wants to continue the traditional \u201cstrategic ambiguity\u201d policy, he must avoid making any explicit commitment to defending Taiwan when asked. If Biden believes the time has come for a policy change in Taiwan, he needs to get a consensus from his team before announcing that to the world (so they don\u2019t contradict him in public), and then make a clear case to the American people before committing U.S. troops and resources to defend Taiwan.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n<div class=\"article-author-description fst-italic\">\n  Helen Raleigh, CFA, is an American entrepreneur, writer, and speaker. She&#8217;s a senior contributor at The Federalist. Her writings appear in other national media, including The Wall Street Journal and Fox News.  Helen is the author of several books, including &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Confucius-Never-Said-Helen-Raleigh\/dp\/1499185278\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&#038;keywords=Helen+Raleigh+Confucius+Never+Said&#038;qid=1606079469&#038;sr=8-1\">Confucius Never Said<\/a>&#8221; and \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Backlash-How-Chinas-Aggression-Backfired\/dp\/1736008501\/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&#038;qid=1606006113&#038;sr=8-1\">Backlash: How Communist China&#8217;s Aggression Has Backfired<\/a>.&#8221; Follow her on Parler and Twitter: @HRaleighspeaks.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>During his first trip to Asia as the U.S. president, Joe Biden\u00a0said\u00a0the U.S. military would defend Taiwan if China invaded the island. His comment became headline news worldwide as many<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":536,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1491241","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1491241","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/536"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1491241"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1491241\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1491241"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1491241"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1491241"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}