The United States’ commitment to Taiwan is “rock-solid”, the StateDepartment said late Saturday, as it warned that China’s “attempts tointimidate” the island are a threat to regional peace.
The comments are the first from Washington on relations with Taiwan sincePresident Joe Biden’s inauguration last week, and came on the same dayTaipei reported multiple Chinese jets and bombers had flown into its airdefence zone.
State Department spokesperson Ned Price said it “notes with concern thepattern of ongoing PRC attempts to intimidate its neighbours, includingTaiwan” and “urges Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economicpressure against Taiwan”.
The statement added Washington would continue to work on “deepening” tieswith democratic Taiwan.
Taiwan split from China at the end of a civil war in 1949. Its 23 millionpeople live under the constant threat of invasion by the mainland, whoseleaders view the island as their territory and have vowed to one day takeit.
Washington diplomatically recognises Beijing over Taipei, but remains thelatter’s most important unofficial ally and military backer.
Beijing baulks at any official contacts with Taiwan and tries to keep theisland diplomatically isolated.
President Donald Trump embraced warmer ties with the island as he feudedwith China on issues like trade and national security.
Beijing has called for a reset in US-China ties under Biden and on Thursdaywarned the US to “cautiously and appropriately handle Taiwan issues toprevent harm to US-China relations”.
But the new US president is expected to remain tough on the superpowerrival despite a softening of diplomatic tone.
Protecting Taiwan has become a rare bipartisan issue, especially as ChinesePresident Xi Jinping has ramped up threats towards the island.
Last year, Chinese airplanes made a record 380 incursions into Taiwan’s airdefence identification zone and there is little sign of a shift since Bidencame to power.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said 13 People’s Liberation Armyaircraft, including eight bombers and four jets, entered its defence zoneon Saturday.
In a tweet on Sunday, Taipei’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked the USfor its statement of support “in the face of Beijing’s ongoing coercion.”
There was no immediate response from Beijing on Sunday.
In a subtle but symbolic gesture, Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the USwas formally invited to Biden’s inauguration in what Taipei said was aprecedent-setting first since Washington switched recognition to Beijing in1979.
The US statement on Saturday noted that Washington would “continue toassist Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability”.