Analysis-Biden hints at risky policy shift on Taiwan independence
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[September 20, 2022]
By Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Overshadowed by U.S.
President Joe Biden's headline-grabbing vow that American forces would
defend Taiwan against a Chinese attack was his hint at possibly shifting
U.S. policy to support the island's right to self-determination.
Though the White House has taken pains to say Biden's most explicit
statement yet about defending the Chinese-claimed island, made during an
interview broadcast on Sunday, did not signify a policy change, some
analysts say he may have undercut – intentionally or not – a U.S. stance
of not taking a position on Taiwan's independence.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has long-vowed to bring Taiwan under Beijing's
control and has not ruled out the use of force to do so.
Democratically-governed Taiwan strongly objects to China's claims but
says it does not need to declare independence because it is already an
independent country.
U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense
Secretary Lloyd Austin, have underscored this year that the United
States does not support Taiwan independence.
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Their assurances are a part of a non-committal policy assiduously
adhered to over decades to dissuade Beijing from an unprovoked attack
and convince Taiwan to not make a formal independence declaration. In
Washington parlance, it is known as "dual deterrence."
But Biden told CBS "60 Minutes" that while he is not encouraging the
move, such a decision was up to Taiwan.
"Taiwan makes their own judgments about their independence. We are not
encouraging their being independent. That's their decision," Biden said.
BIDEN'S REMARKS DIVIDE
The president's critics argue China will perceive his comments as tacit
support for an independence declaration, a redline for Beijing. They
also say Biden's comments are more likely to aggravate hostilities than
overt defense commitments since Beijing already likely assumes
Washington will defend Taiwan.
"It is incoherent to argue that America's Taiwan policy has not changed
while also claiming that the U.S. has a commitment to fight for Taiwan
and that Taiwan makes its own judgments about independence," said Craig
Singleton, a China policy expert at the Foundation for Defense of
Democracies. He added Beijing will likely worry that Biden is suggesting
Taiwan can decide itself whether it is independent.
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![](../images/092022PIX/news_p97.jpg)
U.S. President Joe Biden in the Oval
Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., September 16, 2022.
REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo
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White House Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell told a forum on
Monday the president's remarks "speak for themselves" after some
Republicans, including Senator Ben Sasse, praised the president's
comments but slammed the White House for walking them back.
"The President directly affirmed the United States' longstanding one
China policy," said Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for Biden's
National Security Council.
Biden also garnered support from some U.S. allied countries, such as
from the visiting speaker of Lithuania's parliament, Viktorija
Cmilyte-Nielsen, who told Reuters that Biden's comments were
"meaningful and timely."
"I think it's a strong statement and it's definitely a welcome
tone," she said.
'PRECISION OF LANGUAGE'
Taiwan's Foreign Ministry responded to Biden's remarks by expressing
its "sincere appreciation" for his staunch support of the island.
China's Washington embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said the United
States should not send the wrong signal to Taiwan's separatist
forces lest it risk undermining peace across the Taiwan Strait and
China-U.S. relations.
Jude Blanchette, a China expert at the Center for Strategic and
International Studies think tank, said Biden's remarks confused
rather than clarified U.S. policy.
"One issue where the precision of language is paramount is the
discourse on our Taiwan policy," Blanchette said.
"If we are going to make a fundamental policy shift that we are
going to defend Taiwan even if they declare independence, then
that's one that deserves a more robust discussion than everyone
being informed on a 60 Minutes interview," he said.
(Reporting by Michael Martina, David Brunnstrom and Trevor Hunnicutt;
Editing by Mary Milliken and Josie Kao)
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