After President Biden's Vow To Defend Taiwan Against China, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Reaffirms U.S. Commitment To Taiwan

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks with British Defense Minister Ben Wallace at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 22, 2021. NATO leaders conducted their first in-person defense ministerial meeting since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Chad J. McNeeley/Defense Department)  

Stars and Stripes: Austin restates Taiwan support as NATO defense ministers discuss ‘futureproofing’ the alliance  

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Taiwan on Friday, but stopped short of saying whether the U.S. military would help defend the country if it were to come under attack from China. 

“I won’t engage in hypotheticals with respect to Taiwan,” Austin said at the conclusion of talks with allies at NATO headquarters in Brussels. 

On Thursday, President Joe Biden caused a stir during a CNN town hall meeting when asked if the U.S. would defend Taiwan if it came under attack. 

"Yes, we have a commitment to do that," Biden said, raising questions about whether the U.S. was shifting from its long-standing policy of “strategic ambiguity.” 

The U.S. offers support to Taiwan though military aid, weapons sales and training. 

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Update: US Defense Secretary Austin doubles down on Biden’s vow to support Taiwan against China (RT)  

WNU Editor: U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is not as clear as President Biden was last night when he said that the US would defend Taiwan if it is attacked by China. As of this morning, no pullback yet from the White House on President Biden's vow to defend Taiwan against a China attack.

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