WH Again Walks Back Biden Taiwan Comments
(Washington, DC) — President Biden once again said the U.S. would send troops to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion. And once again, the White House is walking back those comments. Biden told 60 Minutes on Sunday troops would be deployed. After the interview, the White House told the producers that, for now, the U.S. is only pledging military equipment. It’s the fourth time the White House has had to clarify Biden’s comments about Taiwan in the past 13 months.
Taiwan:
Scott Pelley: What should Chinese President Xi know about your commitment to Taiwan?
President Joe Biden: We agree with what we signed onto a long time ago. And that there’s one China policy, and Taiwan makes their own judgments about their independence. We are not moving– we’re not encouraging their being independent. We’re not– that– that’s their decision.
Scott Pelley: But would U.S. Forces defend the island?
President Joe Biden: Yes, if in fact there was an unprecedented attack.
After our interview a White House official told us U.S. policy has not changed. Officially, the U.S. will not say whether American forces would defend Taiwan. But the commander-in-chief had a view of his own.
Scott Pelley: So unlike Ukraine, to be clear, sir, U.S. Forces, U.S. men and women would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion?
President Joe Biden: Yes.
Ukraine:
Scott Pelley: You’re already north of $15 billion in terms of those commitments. How far do you go?
President Joe Biden: As long as it takes.
Scott Pelley: Ironclad commitment?
President Joe Biden: Yes.
Inflation:
Scott Pelley: Mr. President, as you know, last Tuesday the annual inflation rate came in at 8.3%. The stock market nosedived. People are shocked by their grocery bills. What can you do better and faster?
President Joe Biden: Well, first of all, let’s put this in perspective. Inflation rate month to month was just– just an inch, hardly at all,
Scott Pelley: You’re not arguing that 8.3% is good news.
President Joe Biden: No, I’m not saying it is good news. But it was 8.2% or– 8.2% before. I mean, it’s not– you’re ac– we act– make it sound like all of a sudden, “My god, it went to 8.2%.” It’s been–
Scott Pelley: It’s the highest inflation rate, Mr. President, in 40 years.
President Joe Biden: I got that. But guess what we are. We’re in a position where, for the last several months, it hasn’t spiked. It has just barely– it’s been basically even. And in the meantime, we created all these jobs and– and prices– have– have gone up, but they’ve come down for energy.
Hunter Biden:
Scott Pelley: Mr. President, if you run again, Republicans are most likely to go after your son Hunter once again. And I wonder what you would like to say about your son and whether any of his troubles have caused conflicts for you or for the United States.
President Joe Biden: I love my son, number one. He fought– an addiction problem. He overcame it. He wrote about it. And no, there’s not a single thing that I’ve observed at all from th– that would affect me or the United States relative to my son Hunter.
Read the entire transcript here: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/president-joe-biden-60-minutes-interview-transcript-2022-09-18/