US President Joe Biden says he would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan, in a series of critical comments about China he made in Tokyo that an aide said represented no change in US policy on the self-ruled island.
Mr Biden's comment on Monday, made during his first visit to Japan since taking office, and as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida looked on, appeared to be a departure from existing US policy of so-called strategic ambiguity on Taiwan.
China considers the democratic island its territory, part of "one China", and says it is the most sensitive and important issue in its ties with the United States.
When a reporter asked Mr Biden during a joint news conference with the Japanese leader if the United States would defend Taiwan if it were attacked, the president answered: "Yes."
"That's the commitment we made," he said.
"We agree with a one-China policy. We've signed on to it and all the intended agreements made from there. But the idea that, that it can be taken by force, just taken by force, is just not, is just not appropriate."
He added that it was his expectation that such an event would not happen or be attempted.
Following Mr Biden's comments, a White House official said there was no change in policy towards Taiwan.
China's foreign ministry said the United States should not defend Taiwan's independence.
The president's national security aides shifted in their seats and appeared to be studying Mr Biden closely as he responded to the question on Taiwan. Several looked down as he made what appeared to be an unambiguous commitment to Taiwan's defence.
Mr Biden made a similar comment about defending Taiwan in October. and one analyst referred to the comment as a "gaffe".
President Joe Biden, right, meets with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at Akasaka Palace, Monday, 23 May, 2022, in Tokyo. Source: AP / Evan Vucci/AP
'Strategic ambiguity'
Despite the White House insistence that Monday's comments did not represent a change of US policy, Grant Newsham, a retired US Marine Corps colonel and now a research fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies, said the meaning was clear.
"This statement deserves to be taken seriously," Mr Newsham said.
"It is a clear enough statement that the US will not sit by if China attacks Taiwan."
While Washington is required by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, it has long followed a policy of "strategic ambiguity" on whether it would intervene militarily to protect Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.
Mr Biden made other tough comments about China's increasingly assertive posture in the region, saying he hoped Russian President Vladimir Putin would pay a price for his invasion of Ukraine in part to show China what it would face if it were to invade Taiwan.
Mr Biden's remarks are also likely to overshadow the centrepiece of his Japan visit, the launch of an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, a broad plan providing an economic pillar for US engagement with Asia.
His trip includes meetings with the leaders of Japan, India and Australia, in the Quad group of countries.
