Joe Biden said today that the United States would defend Taiwan if it invaded. (File)
Beijing:
Beijing on Monday said it was ready to defend its national interests over Taiwan, citing US President Joe Biden’s promise to protect the island from any Chinese attack.
The Chinese Communist Party has never controlled self-governing Taiwan, but they see the island as part of their territory and promise to occupy it one day by force if necessary.
Biden, who is in Tokyo to meet with regional allies, warned earlier Monday that China’s growing strong position on the island was “flirting in danger” and promised to protect Taiwan from any military action by its huge neighbor.
The remarks were met with protests in Beijing, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin telling reporters that “Taiwan is an integral part of China’s territory.”
He said the Taiwan issue is a completely internal matter of China. “On the issue of China’s core interests of sovereignty and territorial integrity, there is no room for compromise.”
Biden made a connection between the West’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Beijing’s perception of the risk of military action against Taiwan.
Wang said China would always defend its interests with the strength of its 1.4 billion people.
He added, “No one should underestimate the determination, strong will and determination of the Chinese people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by NDTV staff and was published from a syndicated feed.)
