US says 'no change' in Taiwan policy after Biden defense vow

WASHINGTON: The White House clarified Friday that there was no change in US policy on Taiwan after President Joe Biden promised to defend the island from Chinese attack, angering Beijing.
"The president was not announcing any change in our policy and there is no change in our policy," a White House spokesperon said.
The United States would come to Taiwan's defense and has a commitment to defend the island China claims as its own territory, US President Joe Biden had said on Thursday.
"Yes, we have a commitment to do that," Biden said at a CNN town hall when asked if the United States would come to the defense of Taiwan, which has complained of mounting military and political pressure from Beijing to accept Chinese sovereignty.
While Washington is required by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, it has long followed a policy of "strategic ambiguity" on whether it would intervene militarily to protect Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.