Joe Biden claims, again, that he would go to war with China over Taiwan, White House walks back remarks, again.

 

Joe Biden in Japan. New York Post/AP.

Joe Biden claims that he would go to war with China over Taiwan, though the White House walked back his remarks. New York Post. Biden was at a press conference in Japan when he made the remarks after being asked if he would defend Taiwan if they were attacked by China. The White House then walked back the remarks saying that US policy towards Taiwan had not changed. The United States is not obligated to defend Taiwan by treat but it is obligated to allow Taiwan to defend itself. This is the third time that Biden has made similar comments and the third time the White House has walked back the remarks. China was predictably furious with the remarks since they consider Taiwan to be a breakaway province. 

My Comment:
One time is a mistake, twice is suspicious and three times is enemy action. At least that is what the Chinese are thinking here. They don't have a choice, they have to take the president's words seriously, even if they are immediately walked back. 

Do I think that this was a serious statement or Biden just putting his foot in his mouth again? It's hard to tell. If it was anyone else I would say that this for sure is a change in US policy. But Biden always had trouble with putting his feet in his mouth and that was even before his encroaching senility. 

But honestly? It doesn't matter. China has to take this seriously either way. They will have to respond now as I can't see them writing this off. They are planning on taking back Taiwan and now they will simply have to have plans to destroy our fleets or even consider launching a preemptive nuclear strike. They probably consider Taiwan to be worth it. 

I do think there is a case to be made for defending Taiwan. Unlike Ukraine, for example, Taiwan is a decent ally and are a critical strategic asset. They are a major trade partner and manufacture a lot of components for our defense weapons. Plus, China is our biggest geopolitical ally. 

However this is a decision that needs to be discussed, not just blurted out at a press conference. There are huge downsides to pledging to defend Taiwan, the most obvious being that China can punish us for even thinking about that. They our are biggest trade partner and what they produce is not easily replaced. Plus they are a major military threat at a time when our weapons stockpiles have been foolishly expended in Ukraine. 

And a war with China is probably even more risky than a war with Russia. Though Russia has more nukes they do not have anywhere near the economic power that China does. And any war between the United States and China would cripple both countries economically, even if the war remains conventional. 

A major problem with Joe Biden is we never know where we stand with him. I honestly don't know what his Taiwan policy is because he has contradicted himself three times now. If the man had been vetted in anyway and foreign policy had come up once during the 2020 election we would know better if this was a serious change in US policy or another example of Biden having a senior moment. Of course if he had been vetted in anyway he would not be in the White House today...