China condemns Biden's 'dangerous' remarks on Taiwan

China on Monday condemned the statements of US President Joe Biden, who stressed that his country would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion, considering them a "serious violation" of Washington's commitments to Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters that Biden's remarks "send a wrong and dangerous message to the separatist forces working for Taiwan independence."

The US President had responded to a question during an interview on CBS whether "the Americans will defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack," saying, "Yes, if there is an unprecedented attack."

But a White House spokesman confirmed to AFP on Sunday evening that US policy toward Taiwan "has not changed."

During the interview, the US president stressed that he "does not encourage" the island to declare its formal independence.

"That decision is up to them," he said.

"It is a grave breach of an important commitment made by the United States not to support Taiwan independence," Mao Ning added.

Through three joint declarations signed in 1972, 1979, and 1982, the United States pledged to recognize the Beijing government as the sole legitimate representative of China.

Washington also "recognizes the Chinese position that there is one China and that Taiwan is part of China," according to the text of the 1982 declaration published on the website of the Chinese embassy in the United States.

On the Taiwan side, the State Department welcomed Joe Biden's comments on Monday and expressed "its sincere gratitude".

"Our government will continue to enhance its self-defense capabilities," the Taiwanese foreign ministry said in a statement.

Biden had said at the end of last May that the United States would intervene militarily to support Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack, before retracting, stressing his adherence to the policy of "strategic ambiguity."

This ambiguous policy has governed Washington's policy toward Taiwan for decades and is based on the United States' reluctance to say whether or not it would intervene militarily to defend Taiwan in the event of an attack.

This position allowed to maintain relative stability in the region.

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