May 27, 2022 3 min read World News

Biden Administration Focuses on China after President's Taiwan Comment

Following President Biden's assertion that the US would defend Taiwan if it was attacked, the administration casts China as the most serious challenge to international order.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned in a speech Thursday that despite the current focus on Russia and the war in Ukraine, China poses the "most serious, long-term challenge" to the international order, reports Axios.

"China is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order — and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it," Blinken said.

Blinken: China poses "most serious, long-term challenge" to world order (Axios)

Excerpt from Axios: "Beijing’s vision would move us away from the universal values that have sustained so much of the world’s progress over the past 75 years. Under President Xi, the ruling Chinese Communist Party has become more repressive at home and more aggressive abroad. We cannot rely on Beijing to change its trajectory. So we will shape the strategic environment around Beijing to advance our vision for an open and inclusive international system," Blinken said.

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Secretary of State Blinken's comments come in the wake of President Biden's signaling of a more confrontational approach to China.

According to the Washington Post, Biden, speaking to reporters during his first trip to Asia as president, said the United States would defend Taiwan militarily if it came under attack by China — despite the U.S. policy of remaining vague on the subject — and that deterring Beijing from aggression in Taiwan and elsewhere was among the reasons it was critical to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin for his “barbarism in Ukraine.”

Biden takes aggressive posture toward China on Asia trip (Washington Post)

Excerpt from the Washington Post: Asked if the United States would defend Taiwan militarily if it is attacked by China, Biden said, "Yes, that’s the commitment we made." He added: "We agree with the 'One China' policy ... but the idea that it can be taken by force, just taken by force, is just not appropriate. It would dislocate the entire region and be another action similar to what happened in Ukraine. And so it’s a burden that’s even stronger." The 'One China' policy is a long-standing bit of diplomatic legerdemain under which the United States recognizes China’s position that there is only one Chinese government, but does not accept Beijing’s view that Taiwan is under its rightful control.

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In a related story, the Biden administration has accelerated its efforts to reshape Taiwan’s defense systems as it projects a more robust American military presence in the region to try to deter a potential attack by the Chinese military, writes the New York Times.

U.S. Speeds Up Reshaping of Taiwan’s Defenses to Deter China (New York Times)

Excerpt from the New York Times: Russia’s war in Ukraine has made American and Taiwanese officials acutely aware that an autocrat can order an invasion of a neighboring territory at any moment. But it has also shown how a small military can hold out against a seemingly powerful foe. U.S. officials are taking lessons learned from arming Ukraine to work with Taiwan in molding a stronger force that could repel a seaborne invasion by China, which has one of the world’s largest militaries.

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