In both instances, the White House has clarified that there has been no change in US policy, which officially maintains the so-called "strategic ambiguity” regarding Taiwan.
China's foreign ministry had “no room for concessions" when it came to its interests, its spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a daily news briefing.
The democratically ruled island has complained of mounting military and political pressure from Beijing to accept Chinese sovereignty.
Biden was asked on CNN last Thursday whether the US would come to the defence of Taiwan. "Yes, we have a commitment to do that,” he replied. Later, a White House spokesperson said Biden was not announcing any change in US policy: “The US defence relationship with Taiwan is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act. We will uphold our commitment under the act, we will continue to support Taiwan's self-defence, and we will continue to oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo.”
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