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Joe Biden clarifies remark about ‘independent’ Taiwan
- The president said the island ‘makes its own decisions’, but told reporters soon after that the US was ‘not encouraging independence’
- Biden’s latest mixed message about Taiwan comes just a day after his virtual summit with China’s Xi Jinping
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President Joe Biden on Tuesday clarified his apparent reference to an “independent” Taiwan, saying the US position on Chinese sovereignty has not changed.
Biden’s latest in a series of mixed messages about the island – which is claimed by China – came the day after a virtual summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Asked if they had made progress on Taiwan, which has close unofficial relations with the United States, Biden said he “made very clear” his support for current US law.
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Under the Taiwan Act, the United States does not recognise Taiwan’s independence, yet commits to helping the island defend itself.
01:07
No change to US’ one-China stand on Taiwan, Blinken tells Wang Yi on G20 sidelines in Rome
No change to US’ one-China stand on Taiwan, Blinken tells Wang Yi on G20 sidelines in Rome
However, Biden, who was on a trip in New Hampshire, then told reporters: “It’s independent. It makes its own decisions.”
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