President Trump on Wednesday declined to say whether or not the US would defend Taiwan if China attacked the island.
The president was asked if he would make it his policy to ensure “China never takes Taiwan by force” and replied, “I never comment on that. I don’t comment because I don’t ever want to put myself in that position.”
For decades, the US has maintained a policy known as “strategic ambiguity” related to the potential defense of Taiwan, where it would not say one way or the other if the US would intervene.
The purpose of strategic ambiguity is to avoid antagonizing China or emboldening Taiwan into thinking it would have US backing in a war. President Biden broke from this policy, repeatedly declaring he would intervene to defend Taiwan if China attacked, significantly raising tension with Beijing.
By not commenting, Trump has returned to the policy of strategic ambiguity, although his administration is stacked with China hawks and is expected to continue increasing military and diplomatic support for Taiwan. Trump also said that the US is going to “have a good relationship with China,” although he is significantly ramping up the trade war.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also asked about Taiwan in an interview with Fox News and said the US would work to “prevent” China from attacking Taiwan, signaling the Trump administration will continue providing military support, which is done in the name of deterrence but risks provoking Beijing.
The State Department under Rubio has removed a line from its fact sheet on Taiwan that said the US “does not support Taiwan independence,” a move that angered China.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the change to the fact sheet caused “severe damage to China-US relations” and threatened “peace and stability” in the Taiwan Strait.
