US officials describe Japan and South Korea as linchpins of Washington’s offensive against China’s growing commercial and military power, as well as allies in the Western alliance to isolate Russia after its aggression against neighboring Ukraine.
In a joint press conference, Biden and Kishida took a firm tone towards China and advocated their “common vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific (region)” and agreed to monitor Chinese naval activity in the area where Beijing has growing ambitions.
When Biden was asked if the United States would intervene militarily against Beijing in the event of a Chinese attempt to take control of Taiwan by force, the president replied: “It is the commitment that we made.”
“We agree with the one China policy, and have signed for it, but the idea that Taiwan should be taken by force is not appropriate,” he added.
China views Taiwan as a rogue province that must be integrated into the country, by force if necessary.
Hours later, the Chinese government replied that Washington is “playing with fire” with such statements.
The United States is “using the ‘Taiwan card’ to contain China, and it will burn,” said Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office, often described as China’s cabinet. quoted by the Xinhua agency.
According to that source, Zhu “urged the United States to stop making statements or actions” that violate the principles established between the two countries.
In this sense, the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, maintained that Washington’s “one China policy” towards Taiwan “has not changed”. “No one should underestimate the firm determination, firm will and ability of the Chinese people to uphold national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.
War
Biden also attacked the Russian government, which “has to pay a long-term price” for its “barbarism in Ukraine,” alluding to harsh sanctions imposed by Washington and its allies.
“This is not just about Ukraine. If sanctions are not upheld in many respects, what signal would we send to China about the cost of an attempt to take over Taiwan by force?” he asked.
Today Biden will seek to reinforce US leadership in the Asia Pacific region at a summit with the rulers of Australia, India and Japan, the so-called “Quad” group.
However, India has now stood out for its refusal to openly condemn the war in Ukraine or reduce its exchanges with Russia. Biden will meet Tuesday alone with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During his intense day, the US president also announced the launch of a new economic framework for the Asia-Pacific region that will initially have 13 member countries, including India and Japan, but without China.
“The United States and Japan along with 11 other countries will launch the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework,” Biden said of the mechanism, which will not be a free trade agreement. This framework provides for integration in four key areas: the digital economy, supply chains, green energy and the fight against corruption.
“The United States and Japan, along with 11 other nations, are going to launch the Economic Framework for the Indo-Pacific (region),” Biden said during the press conference with Fumio Kishida.
“It is a commitment to work with our close friends and partners in the region, in the face of challenges to guarantee economic competitiveness in the
21st century,” added the US president, who said he was considering lifting some tariff barriers for China.
The United States has little interest in returning to a binding trade agreement with Asia after former President Donald Trump withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership in 2017.
Biden ended his day with dinner with Kishida and the prime minister’s wife in the garden of a select Tokyo restaurant, where they ate sushi and other traditional Japanese cuisine.
Source: Ambito
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