TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) welcomed U.S. President Joe Biden’s reaffirmation of American commitment to Taiwan in a Time magazine interview published Wednesday (June 5).
The ministry also thanked Biden for his strong emphasis on and support for regional peace and stability in a statement issued on Wednesday.
When asked how the U.S. might defend Taiwan, Biden said it would “depend on the circumstances,” adding, he was “not ruling out using US military force” if China unilaterally altered the status quo.
“We're continuing to supply capacity. And, and we've been in consultation with our allies in the region,” Biden said.
MOFA said China has been utilizing “normal and routine” democratic processes to exert military pressure and engage in gray zone coercion. This has severely threatened regional peace, stability, and prosperity, and drawn concern from the international community, the ministry said.
Taiwan will defend its freedom and security and continue to enhance its self-defense capabilities, MOFA said. It will also deepen cooperation with like-minded countries such as the U.S to uphold the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.