TOKYO, May 24 (Reuters) – President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that there was no change in US policy of “strategic ambiguity” towards Taiwan, a day after angering China, saying he would be ready to use force to protect the democratic island.
The issue of Taiwan loomed over a meeting in Tokyo of the leaders of the United States Quadruple Group, Japan, Australia and India, who stressed their determination to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region in the face of increasingly pressing China – although Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the group was not targeting any country.
The four leaders said in a joint statement issued after their talks that they “discussed their respective responses to the conflict in Ukraine and the ongoing tragic humanitarian crisis”.
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In an obvious concession to India, which has long had close ties to Russia, the words “Russia” or “Russian” do not appear in the statement.
Kishida told a news conference that leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, shared concerns about Ukraine and that all four agreed on the importance of the rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
But Biden’s comment on Taiwan, which was not even on the official agenda of the Quad meeting, was the focus of much of the attention from delegations and the media.
While Washington is required by law to provide self-governing Taiwan with remedies, it has long pursued a policy of “strategic uncertainty” over whether to intervene militarily to protect it in the event of a Chinese attack – Biden’s convention seems to have broken on Monday. Read more
On Tuesday, Biden, when asked if there had been a change in US policy toward Taiwan, said no.
“Politics has not changed at all. I said that when I made my statement yesterday,” he said after talks with his Quad colleagues.
China considers Taiwan an integral part of its territory and says it is the most sensitive and important issue in its relations with Washington.
Biden’s comment Monday, when he voluntarily gave US military support to Taiwan, was the latest in a series of apparently unconventional allegations that suggest his personal inclination is to defend the island.
Some critics have said he was wrong or blundering, but other analysts have suggested that given Biden’s extensive foreign policy experience and the context in which he made remarks before Kishida and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he was not. said wrong. Read more
Other analysts and advisers said Biden would send a clear message to China during his trip – do not try what Russia has done in Ukraine anywhere in Asia, especially not in Taiwan. Read more
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that China’s principle could not be shaken and that no power in the world, including the United States, could prevent China from achieving “full unification”.
The Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese, the President of the United States Joe Biden, the Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi pose for photos in the entrance hall of the Office of the Prime Minister of Japan in Tokyo, Japan, 24 May 2022 Zhang Xiaoyu / Pool through REUTERS
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Biden left Tokyo shortly after sunset to return home.
GLOBAL ISSUES
Speaking to reporters, Biden condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying it had global repercussions.
“Russia’s attack on Ukraine only reinforces the importance of these goals of the basic principles of international order, territorial integrity and sovereignty. International law, human rights must always be protected, no matter where in the world they are violated,” he said.
Kishida reiterated Biden’s condemnation of Russia, saying its invasion “shakes the foundations of the international order” and is a direct challenge to UN principles.
“We must not allow such things to happen in the Indo-Pacific region,” he said.
Biden said the United States would support its “close democratic partners” to push for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
The United States is disappointed with what it sees as India’s lack of support for US sanctions against Russia and condemnation of the invasion. India also abstained in the UN Security Council vote on the Russian invasion.
The White House said Biden had condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at a bilateral meeting with Modi, but did not say whether Modi had agreed.
Although India has developed close ties with the United States in recent years and is a vital part of the Quad group, it also has a longstanding relationship with Russia, which remains a major supplier of its defense equipment and oil supplies.
Australia’s new Prime Minister Anthony Albanez has said “strong views” have been expressed in talks on Russia, but gave no details. Read more
Albanese also said his goals were in line with the Quartet’s priorities, telling fellow leaders he wanted them all to lead on climate change.
“The region is asking us to work with them and set an example,” he said. “That is why my government will take ambitious action on climate change and increase its support for partners in the region as they work to tackle it.”
China is expanding its influence in the Pacific, where island nations face some of the most direct risks from rising seas. Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi will visit the Solomon Islands in the coming days, which recently signed a security pact with China, despite fears from the United States and Australia. Read more
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Report by Trevor Hunick, Sakura Murakami, David Dolan, Chang-Ran Kim, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Joo Minh Park, Krishna Das and Martin Pollard; Written by Trevor Hanniath and Elaine Lees; Edited by Michael Perry, Robert Birsel, Edmund Klaman and Raju Gopalakrishnan
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