President Biden's public remarks Thursday that the United States would come to Taiwan's defense if it were attacked by China left White House officials scrambling to explain it did not represent a shift in U.S. policy.
The comments come amid historically high tensions with China over trade, human rights, technology, the coronavirus and the island-nation just 80 miles off its coast, which Beijing considers to be a part of its country.
Fears that China might invade Taiwan have been on the rise as Beijing has been flying military aircraft into Taiwan's airspace on a near-daily basis. The heavy military presence has left China watchers recalculating over what Beijing's aims might be with Taiwan.
"He wasn't announcing a change in policy nor have we changed our policy," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters. "We are guided by the Taiwan Relations Act."
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