Biden advisor: China invading Taiwan is still a 'distinct threat'

2022-09-08

Biden national security advisor Jake Sullivan warns China invading Taiwan is still a ‘distinct threat’ – as yet ANOTHER delegation of US lawmakers visits Taipei

White House national security advisor told Bloomberg TV that there were no current plans for President Biden and President Xi to meet at the G20 summit
Sullivan accused China of being inconsistent in its position on Taiwan
‘The American position has remained steadfast and consistent,’ he said
Meanwhile a bipartisan delegation of members of the House of Representatives is arrived in Taiwan Wednesday and is leaving on Friday
That group is being led by Florida Democratic Rep. Stephanie Murphy

The possibility of China invading Taiwan continues to be a ‘distinct threat’ to the global order, White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said on Wednesday.

His warning comes just a day after a top Beijing official issued a blunt warning discouraging ‘stubborn’ calls for the island’s independence.

Sullivan told Bloomberg TV that the United States would ‘push back’ against any efforts to topple the existing world order while also reaffirming the nation’s longstanding support for the One China Policy.

Meanwhile yet another delegation of American lawmakers is testing Beijing with a visit to Taipei this week, along with a separate group from France.

‘I think it remains a distinct threat that there could be a military contingency around Taiwan,’ Sullivan said on Wednesday when asked about a possible invasion.

‘The People’s Republic of China has actually stated its official policy, that it is not taking the invasion of Taiwan off the table.’

The senior Biden aide accused Beijing of shifting its position in regards to Taipei ‘in terms of their disturbance of the status quo along the Taiwan strait, actions they are taking with their military to undermine peace and stability.’

‘The American position has remained steadfast and consistent,’ he said.

Biden National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said there is still a ‘distinct threat’ of China invading Taiwan as the US approves a $1.1 billion arms sale to Taipei

https://youtube.com/watch?v=LKHdBhqbzm4%3Frel%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26hl%3Den-US

Sullivan described the US’s enduring belief in a single Chinese government out of Beijing but reaffirmed support for non-diplomatic relations with Taipei’s government, as outlined in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979.

‘We continue to believe that, and we will continue to push back against any effort to change the status quo by force,’ he said.

In another sign of the two superpowers’ chilly relations, Sullivan said President Joe Biden had no current plans to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the upcoming Group of 20 summit in November.

However, he did say it would ‘afford an opportunity for the two of them to sit down in person.’

China’s Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian told the ABC on Wednesday local time that Beijing was ‘patiently waiting’ for a peaceful reunification with Taiwan.

Meanwhile another delegation of US lawmakers has arrived in Taipei for a multi-day trip (This handout picture taken and released by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on September 7, 2022 shows US Representative Stephanie Murphy (4R) leading a delegation while posing for photographs with Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang (5L) upon their arrival at the Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan)

However, he added that ‘we cannot rule out other options’ including military force.

‘For those secessionists – it’s not a question of re-education. They are going to be punished according to law,’ Qian said.

‘They are being involved in splitting Taiwan from China. So it’s not a question of education or re-education’

Asked if that meant widespread punishment across the island, the diplomat answered that ”there is only handful of people who have been stubborn to pursue a Taiwan independence.’

Meanwhile a bipartisan group from the House of Representatives reportedly arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday, the latest in a string of American visits that has infuriated China.

China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory despite the strong objections of the government in Taipei, carried out war games near the island last month after U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi came to Taipei.

Sources familiar with the plans told Reuters U.S. Representative Stephanie Murphy, a Florida Democrat, was leading the delegation that would stay until Friday.

The other members of the U.S. delegation included Democrat Kaiali’i Kahele and Republicans Scott Franklin, Joe Wilson, Andy Barr, Darrell Issa, Claudia Tenney and Kat Cammack, the sources told Reuters.

Taiwan has been keen to bolster relations with like-minded democracies, especially as tension with China rises. Later this year, visits are also expected from German, British and Canadian legislators.

China views Taiwan as a purely domestic issue and bristles at visits by foreign officials or members of parliament.

Taiwan’s democratically elected government says that as the People’s Republic of China has never governed the island it has no right to claim it, and that Taiwan’s future can only be decided by its 23 million people.

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