U.S. President Joe Biden ruled out Monday that there is an «imminent risk» of an attack by China against Taiwan despite rising tensions in the area.
After a meeting of more than three hours with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Bali, Indonesia, Biden said he has conveyed to Xi that U.S. policy on the island, which Beijing considers another province under its sovereignty, «has not changed».
However, before the meeting he had indicated on several occasions that the United States will defend Taiwan militarily in case China takes steps towards a military intervention or conflict, according to information gathered by the CNN television network.
«I have made it clear that I want to see the issues in the Taiwan Strait resolved peacefully, so the matter should never go any further,» he said, before stressing that he is convinced that Xi «understood perfectly well what I was saying.
NORTH KOREA Biden also stressed that he lacks «certainty» about China’s real influence on North Korea-related issues, such as ballistic testing.
«I have conveyed to President Xi Jinping that they have an obligation to try to keep North Korea from getting involved in nuclear issues and I have made it clear that, in the event that Pyongyang conducts a nuclear test, we would have to take defensive measures that would not be against China,» he said.
In this sense, he pointed out that he considers that Xi «is not looking for an increase in tension» in the Korean peninsula and tried to emphasize what «the North Korean attitude» implies for the United States in the region.
«It is difficult to determine whether or not China has the ability to convince Kim Jong Un to stop his launches and tests. I am confident that China does not want North Korea to be involved in escalating tensions,» he said.
On the other hand, he emphasized the importance of US democracy in reference to the recently held midterm elections.
The results, as he stressed, «show the strength and resilience» of U.S. democracy. «What we have seen is action. The American people have shown once again that we are a democracy,» he said.
«The election shows a clear rejection of those who deny the results of the presidential election. There is also a rejection of political violence and voter intimidation,» he stressed.
