Would the U.S. defend Taiwan if China invades? Biden said yes. But it’s complicated

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President Biden participates in a CNN town hall at the Baltimore Center Stage Pearlstone Theater, on Oct. 21. When asked whether the U.S. would protect Taiwan if China attacked, he said the U.S. has a «commitment» to do so.

Evan Vucci/AP

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Evan Vucci/AP

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China’s Xi Jinping urges a ‘peaceful reunification’ with Taiwan

In doing so, Washington recognized the PRC as the sole legal government of China. It also acknowledged Beijing’s position that there is only one China, and that Taiwan is a part of it. But the U.S. has never supported the Communist Party’s claim that the People’s Republic of China has sovereignty over Taiwan. This is known as the «One China policy.» Beijing considers the island of nearly 24 million people a wayward province to be brought back into the fold, preferably peacefully; by force, if necessary.

Carter signed the Taiwan Relations Act

After the U.S. cut off formal relations with Taipei, Congress passed, and President Jimmy Carter signed, legislation known as the Taiwan Relations Act. It has underpinned U.S. ties toward the island ever since.

The Taiwan Relations Act did two main things.

First, it enshrined as U.S. policy the promotion of robust informal relations with Taiwan, and established a de facto embassy in Taipei called the American Institute in Taiwan.

Second, it declared that diplomatic recognition of Beijing «rests on the expectation that the future of Taiwan will be determined by peaceful means.» Anything less would be of «grave concern» to the U.S. Critically, it noted: «The United States will make available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services in such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.»

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The American Institute in Taiwan building stands in Taipei, widely seen as a de facto embassy to Taiwan.

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Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images

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Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen (left) presents a flag during the commissioning ceremony of the a domestically made warship at the Suao Naval Base in Yilan county, Taiwan, on Sept. 9. Taiwan’s president oversaw the commissioning of the new ship as part of the island’s plan to boost its defense capacity amid heightened tensions with China.

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Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen (left) presents a flag during the commissioning ceremony of the a domestically made warship at the Suao Naval Base in Yilan county, Taiwan, on Sept. 9. Taiwan’s president oversaw the commissioning of the new ship as part of the island’s plan to boost its defense capacity amid heightened tensions with China.

Chiang Ying-ying/AP

Biden has vowed to defend Taiwan before

Biden’s comment on CNN wasn’t his first time taking an assertive stance on Taiwan defense. In August, he told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos the U.S. had «made a sacred commitment» to defend its NATO allies, and the same held for Taiwan. Administration officials later signaled that America’s Taiwan policy had not changed.

As for America’s position on Taiwan’s participation in the United Nations, Blinken stopped short of calling for Taiwan to be readmitted to the body. Taiwan has been allowed to participate in U.N. forums in the past, such as the World Health Assembly, often as an observer. But Beijing has forestalled such participation in recent years because it doesn’t like the current Taiwan leadership, which hails from the traditionally independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party. Blinken said, «Taiwan’s exclusion undermines the important work of the UN and its related bodies.»

For now, it appears, the Biden administration is publicly sticking with America’s long-standing «One China» policy.