The use of force has not been ruled out by Chinese President Xi Jinping in his pledge to conquer Taiwan. Taiwan vehemently rejects China’s claims to sovereignty.
However, U.S. President Joe Biden stated that American forces would defend Taiwan in the case of a Chinese invasion. This remarks are certain to enrage Beijing.
The United States has long maintained a position of “strategic ambiguity,” refusing to say outright if it will use force to defend Taiwan. According to a White House spokeswoman, Washington’s position on Taiwan has not changed. Biden’s reiteration of the “U.S. Government’s rock-solid security commitment to Taiwan” was acknowledge by Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry.
A German Marshall Fund of the United States expert on Asia advised Biden to make sure he could fulfill any commitments he made. Xi cautioned against playing with fire over Taiwan during a phone chat with Biden in July, saying “those who play with fire will perish by it.”