President Joe Biden issued a renewed warning to China over Taiwan in an interview published Tuesday, saying the US military could be used to defend the island in the event of a Chinese attack.
Asked by Time magazine what kinds of options could be on the table, including whether they might involve boots on the ground, Biden said, "It would depend on the circumstances."
It is not the first time Biden has touched on the possibility, but China, which has sovereignty over Taiwan, will likely criticize his statement as in the past, Kyodo reported.
Biden said he has made clear to Chinese President Xi Jinping the long-standing policy under which Washington refrains from seeking independence for Taiwan but would stand behind the island if Beijing tried to change the status quo, adding, "We've been in consultation with our allies in the region."
China considers Taiwan as its breakaway province, but the latter has insisted on its independence since 1949.
US interventions regarding the Taiwan issue, which is contrary to the one-China policy, have raised tensions recently.
MP/PR
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