Biden: U.S. Would Use Military Force to Defend Taiwan

At a news conference in Tokyo, U.S. President Joe Biden said the United States made a commitment to use military force (NYT) to defend Taiwan if it were ever attacked. The comment marks a departure from the U.S. policy of strategic ambiguity on Taiwan, in which Washington remains vague on how it would respond if China used military force to seize control of the island.

A follow-up statement from the White House specified that U.S. policy on Taiwan “has not changed.” But Biden said the U.S. obligation to defend Taiwan is “even stronger” than that for Ukraine. While Taipei welcomed Biden’s comments, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Beijing “has no room for compromise” on its core concerns such as Taiwan. Taiwan was not included (Nikkei) in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Economic Framework unveiled today.

Analysis

“Strategic ambiguity was a shrewd and effective approach for decades; now, however, it has run its course. Clarity on the U.S. commitment to Taiwan will push some American policymakers out of their comfort zones. But it is the only way to bolster deterrence, reassure allies, defend Taiwan, and protect U.S. interests,” CFR President Richard Haass and CFR Research Fellow David Sacks write for Foreign Affairs.

“In the event of a war, it would always be up to the president to decide whether to intervene or not regardless of the formal policy. We now have a clear window into Biden’s instincts on the matter and what his decision would be,” the Atlantic Council’s Matthew Kroenig tells the Financial Times.

This Backgrounder explains China-Taiwan relations and U.S. policy toward the island.

Pacific Rim

Australia Swears In Labor Prime Minister, Ending Nine Years of Conservative Rule

Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party won elections on Saturday with a campaign that favored stronger action (CNN) on climate change. The new prime minister is traveling to Tokyo (SMH) to participate in a summit of countries in the so-called Quad tomorrow.

South and Central Asia

U.S. Officials Begin Central Asia Trip

A delegation that includes officials from the U.S. State Department and National Security Council will visit (State Dept.) Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in a trip focused on strengthening economic ties.

India: The federal government lowered (Indian Express) fuel taxes and import taxes on some commodities in an effort to fight inflation.

Middle East and North Africa

Israel Avoids New Elections After Lawmaker Rejoins Governing Coalition

Days after quitting, Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi reportedly offered to return (Haaretz) to the coalition in exchange for greater economic benefits for Israel’s Arab citizens. Her departure threatened to cause Israel’s fifth elections in four years.

This Backgrounder lays out what to know about Israel’s Arab citizens.

Iran: An unidentified gunman killed (Times of Israel) a senior member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Tehran, state media reported.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Germany’s Scholz Kicks Off Africa Tour With Energy Talks in Senegal

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that he hopes to pursue (Business Day) natural gas and renewable energy projects with Senegal.

For the Africa in Transition blog, Katie Auth and Todd Moss discuss how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will affect Africa’s energy transition.

Ethiopia: In the government’s latest crackdown on the press, authorities in the northern Amhara region arrested four employees (Reuters) of Nisir International Broadcasting Corporation, a U.S.-based media outlet, the outlet said.

Europe

Kyiv Refuses to Cede Any Territory for Cease-Fire Deal

Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff demanded that the war end with the complete restoration (The Guardian) of Ukrainian territory. In a visit to Kyiv, Polish President Andrzej Duda said Warsaw backs Kyiv’s position.

Germany: Berlin reportedly assured European officials (Bloomberg) it will not block efforts to relax European debt and deficit ceilings through the end of 2023 amid the war in Ukraine.

Americas

Report: Haitian Payments to France Following Independence Cost $21 Billion

A New York Times investigation calculated that the Haitian economy would have gained at least $21 billion over time had Haiti not been forced to pay some $560 million to French banks and former enslavers after the country ended slavery and gained independence in 1804.

Peru: President Pedro Castillo replaced his interior and mining ministers (Reuters), the latest in a series of cabinet reshuffles.

United States

Judge Rules Southern Border Expulsion Policy Must Continue

A federal judge blocked the termination (Texas Tribune) of Title 42, a policy imposed in March 2020 that allows for the expulsion of most unauthorized migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, including asylum seekers.

This Backgrounder explains how the U.S. patrols its borders.

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