US and Allies Would ‘Take Action’ If China Attacks Taiwan, Blinken Says

Published: 11/11/2021, 10:38:00 AM EST

US and Allies Would ‘Take Action’ If China Attacks Taiwan, Blinken Says — U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken speaks during a closing press conference with the secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) at the 60th OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris on Oct. 6, 2021. (Ian Langsdon/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

TAIPEI, Taiwan—Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the United States and its allies would “take action,” in the event that the Chinese regime used force to unilaterally change the status quo over the self-ruled island.

However, Blinken did not specify what kind of action Washington or its allies might take, while answering questions during a forum hosted by The New York Times on Nov. 10. His response falls in line with the United States’ decades-long foreign policy known as “strategic ambiguity,” which means that the United States is deliberately vague on the question of whether it would come to Taiwan’s defense.

“At the same time, I think it’s fair to say that we’re not alone in this determination to make sure that we preserve peace and stability in that part of the world," Blinken added.

"There are many countries, both in the region and beyond, that would see any unilateral action to use force to disrupt the status quo as a significant threat to peace and security, and they, too, would take action in the event that that happens."

The Chinese Communist Party sees Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened war to bring the island under its fold. In reality, the island is a de facto independent country with its own democratically-elected government, military, constitution, and currency.

Last month, Taiwan’s defense minister warned that the Chinese regime will be capable of mounting a full-scale invasion of the self-ruled island by 2025.

In 1979, Washington ended its diplomatic ties with Taipei in favor of Beijing, but it has maintained a non-diplomatic relationship with the island based on the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). The act authorizes the United States to provide Taiwan with military equipment for its self-defense.

“We will make sure that Taiwan has the means to defend itself, because the purpose here is never to get to that point where anyone is actually trying to disrupt the status quo by force, to make sure that deterrence is there, and that no one engages in actions that could be profoundly disruptive, dangerous, to world peace and security,” Blinken said.

Beijing was upset by Blinken’s statement. On Nov. 11, Wang Wenbin, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, accused Blinken of “violating international law” with his support of Taiwan, during a daily briefing.

Wang also said China would never allow the United States to “interfere with its internal affairs,” with regard to issues related to Taiwan.

Chen Huei-jen, deputy head of the Department of North American Affairs at Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, thanked Blinken for his support, during a briefing on Thursday.

Additionally, Chen added that the Taiwanese government will continue to deepen its cooperation with the United States and other like-minded countries.

From The Epoch Times