US and allies will retaliate if China launches an attack on Taiwan

Washington / Taipei / Beijing – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that allies, including the United States, will retaliate if China attacks Taiwan. This is the third time in the past month that the US leadership has had to make assurances about Taiwan. Earlier, President Joe Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the United States was committed to Taiwan’s security. US President Joe Biden will reportedly hold a virtual meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the coming days. Against this background, the statement made by Secretary of State Blinken is noteworthy.

In an event hosted by the New York Times, Secretary Blinken was questioned about China’s attack on Taiwan. In response, Secretary of State Blinken referred to the role and statements by the United States in the past. ‘The United States is not the only country that wants peace and stability in and around Taiwan. Many countries, both in the region and beyond, would see any unilateral action to use force to disrupt the status quo as a significant threat to peace and security. If unilateral action is taken, these countries will retaliate,’ Blinken said while warning that allies, including the United States, would retaliate against China.

Over the past year, China’s ruling regime has become increasingly aggressive on the Taiwan issue. At a recent Communist Party event, President Jinping raised the issue of Taiwan’s merger. He had said that Taiwan would be merged with China. Since then, there has been a surge in military activity in China. A few days ago, it was reported that President Jinping was given ‘War Powers’.

Against this backdrop, the United States and its allies have become aggressive, and countries such as Japan and Australia have begun to take bold steps on the Taiwan issue. Japan has announced the setting up of new missiles and an ‘electronic warfare unit’ near Taiwan. The Australian leadership has also clearly indicated that Australia will enter the China-Taiwan war should it happen.

Blinken’s remarks about the allies are believed to reference initiatives taken by Japan and Australia. Meanwhile, a visit to Taiwan by US lawmakers has left China uneasy. The United States has endorsed the One China Policy and should not develop political relations with Taiwan, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has warned. This visit has attracted a lot of attention as US lawmakers arrived in Taiwan on a Defense Forces plane.