The United States is "playing with fire," Beijing warned on Monday, after US President Joe Biden said Washington would defend Taiwan if China attempts to invade it.
The US "is using Taiwan's card to intercept China and will burn itself," said Zhou Fenglian, the spokesman for the Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office at the State Council, according to Xinhua news agency.
From Washington, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asserted that the US's "one China" policy on Taiwan "has not changed."
Austin made the statement when asked to comment on statements by Biden, who replied in the affirmative when asked if the US "would militarily defend Taiwan" if China invaded the island.
"That is the commitment we have made," Biden had said. "We agreed to the one China policy, we signed it (...) but the idea that (Taiwan) could be invaded by force is just not appropriate.
The Chinese are "already flirting with danger right now by flying so close (to Taiwan) and with all the maneuvers they are attempting."
A few hours later, however, at a Pentagon press conference, Lloyd assured that nothing had changed. "As the President said, the one-China policy has not changed. He reiterated that policy and our commitment to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."
Source: KYPE
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