China on Friday pushed back on President Biden after his comments during a town hall Thursday night saying that the United States would defend Taiwan if it was attacked.
In a briefing on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin asserted that Taiwan was under China’s control and that there was “no compromise on the issue,” The Associated Press reports.
“When it comes to issues related to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and other core interests, there is no room for China to compromise or make concessions, and no one should underestimate the strong determination, firm will and strong ability of the Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Wang said, according to the AP.
During a CNN town hall on Thursday, Biden suggested that he was not concerned about an attack when asked about China testing a hypersonic missile.
“Don’t worry about whether they’re going to be more powerful,” Biden said. “What you do have to worry about is whether or not they’re going to engage in activities that will put them in a position where they may make a serious mistake.”
Biden further dismissed the idea that he wants to start “a new cold war” with China.
“I don’t want a cold war with China. I just want to make China understand that we are not going to step back. We are not going to change any of our views,” he said.
When directly pressed on whether the U.S. would defend Taiwan if China attacked, Biden said, “Yes, we have a commitment to do that.”
The U.S. has been providing military and other forms of support to Taiwan since China’s nationalist government fled to the island in 1949 during the Chinese Civil War. The U.S. later cut formal ties with the government in Taipei under agreements with Beijing established about 30 years later.
China flew nearly 150 warplanes near Taiwan earlier this month, and Taiwan has said it is preparing for war with China.
Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. forces had been quietly training Taiwan’s military forces for at least a year over concerns of Chinese aggression.