President Biden sent a delegation of former US officials to Taiwan to reassure the island that the US will stand “firm” behind its security commitments, The South China Morning Post reported on Wednesday.
The delegation was led by former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Mullen and included Michele Flournoy, a notoriously hawkish former Pentagon official who was once in the running to be President Biden’s secretary of defense.
“I do hope by being here with you, we can reassure you and your people, as well as our allies and partners in the region, that the United States stands firm behind its commitments,” Mullen said during a meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
According to the Post, Russia’s attack on Ukraine sparked debate in Taiwan over whether or not the US would intervene in the event of a Chinese invasion of the island. The US is not bound by any treaty to defend Taiwan but maintains a policy of “strategic ambiguity” over whether or not it would intervene if China invades.
While the US hasn’t had formal relations with Taiwan since 1979, it has continued to arm the island. Earlier this month, the Biden administration approved a $100 million sale for Taiwan to improve its Patriot missile defense systems.
The Biden delegation’s trip to Taiwan came ahead of a visit to the island by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who arrived later on Wednesday. Upon his arrival, Pompeo called Taiwan a “great nation,” a comment sure to irk Beijing.
During Pompeo’s time in the Trump administration, the US took steps to boost informal ties with Taiwan and sent over the highest-level US officials to visit the island since Washington severed diplomatic relations with Taipei. The Biden administration has continued the trend and encourages higher-level US contacts with Taiwanese officials.
Similar to how US meddling in Ukraine angers Russia, the US’s steps to boost ties with Taiwan anger China. Beijing views such actions as gradual steps towards ending the one-China policy and has repeatedly warned the US against encouraging “independence” forces in Taiwan. In January, China’s ambassador to the US warned that if Washington continues down this road, it could lead to war.
To be accurate, he didn’t say “security commitments.” He said “commitments”. That’s on a par with “we support Ukraine” – while doing nothing.
Because if he said “security commitments”, China would come down on Taiwan like a tsunami.
Taiwan will get the Ukraine commitment. Hope they are more prepared than Ukraine was.
Question how and why did this crisis arise ? , if you can`t answer that without Google then don`t make silly comments , thats the problem the majority have no idea why this is taking place , it`sRussia fault , well news fhash it`s been Russias fault for 65 years to my knowledge .
Ask the Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Lithuanians, and Georgians if they blame Russia for European aggression over the past 65 years
Ask the Iraqis, Libyans, Syrians, Serbians, Afghanis if they blame the US for aggression.
Focus: This is about Russia and NATO and who is a threat to whom in Europe
Focus on precedent, even when you don’t like it.
Yeh if i remember right they promised Ukraine the samething .
Does Taiwan have the right to self-determination?
Of course Taiwan has the right to self-determination. But, if China violates Taiwan’s right to self-determination, should the United States have an obligation to intervene?
You mean like Crimea, and the Donbass region?
Does the Catalan region of Spain? How about the old Confederacy, did they?
Richard Holbrooke, Assistant Secretary of State for Carter, went all over Asia pontificating about how we stood by our commitments, and then a very short time later, cut Taiwan adrift by withdrawing all US military forces from Taiwan, severing diplomatic relations, and unilaterally abrogating the Taiwan-US Mutual Defense Treaty. As Pompass stated referring to our CIA, aka Deep State, “We lie, cheat, and steal.”
Now this phony Biden delegation comes up with the same “assurances”.