XI Yawning At Biden’s New Warning?

Does China’s relatively muted response to Pres Biden’s provocative willingness to defend Taiwan if PRC launches an “unprecedented attack” suggest Xi no longer takes anything Joe says seriously? Recall Pelosi visit meltdown?

What a difference a few days and change in actors on the Pacific stage can make. During his recently aired interview with 60 Minutes, President Biden said quite bluntly when asked if US forces would defend Taiwan, “Yes, if in fact there was an unprecedented attack,” which if true would arguably be an unprecedented move away from the US’s long-standing “strategic ambiguity” stance. Mr. Biden quickly went on to emphasize he’s still dedicated to the “One China” policy, which recognizes the PRC’s sovereignty over Taiwan. He insisted “we’re not encouraging [Taiwan’s] being independent.”

Yet, the Senate Foreign Relations Cte passed a bill this week that would give Taiwan $4.5 billion for defense and call Taiwan a non-NATO ally. Then, there’s that mostly photo-op visit by House Speaker Pelosi. Yet, unlike the military exercises with live ammunition launched in its wake, the PRC seems to be yawning at Joe’s latest comments, while reminding everyone yet again it will not waiver in its resolve to “safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity and to realize national reunification.”

Davd Soul