State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Fox News Channel’s “The Story” broadcast Wednesday that President Joe Biden’s announcement that the U.S. would send troops to defend Taiwan was a hypothetical and that U.S. policy had not changed, but the administration stood by the hypothetical Biden’s answer.
Price mentioned [relevant remarks begin around 6:00] Which Biden said “is what he’s said in every instance where he’s been asked this question before, like our policy hasn’t changed.”
Host Martha McCallum then cut in to ask, “But he’s said four times now, if they attack, we’ll go in there with US troops and support them. He said it four times. So, you’re telling me that it’s not a change?
Price responded, “And each of those four times, to answer your question, the president has added to his answer that our policy has not changed. We see continued status quo utilities across the Taiwan Strait. We do not want to see either side take unilateral action that would disrupt the status quo that has served our interests, and, obviously, the interests of the international community for the past 40 years. It is in our interest to maintain and maintain that status quo.”
McCallum then asked, “You favor his hypothetical answer?”
“Sure,” replied Dam. And the President was very clear in his answer that our policy has not changed. He is the President of the United States, if the President of the United States wants to change US policy, he will have no qualms about doing so.
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