China warns US not to underrate resolve on Taiwan

Biden, who was in Tokyo to meet regional allies, earlier on Monday warned that China's increasingly assertive stance over the island was “flirting with danger” and promised to defend Taiwan from any military action by its giant neighbor.

“That’s the commitment we made,” he said when asked if Washington would intervene militarily against an attempt to forcibly take control of self-ruled Taiwan, AFP reported.

“We agreed with the One China policy, we signed on to it... but the idea that Taiwan can be taken by force is just not appropriate.

The comments drew a harsh criticism from Beijing, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin telling reporters “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory”.

“The Taiwan issue is a purely internal affair for China,” he said.

“On issues touching on China’s core interests of sovereignty and territorial integrity, China has no room for compromise or concession.”

China’s Communist Party has never controlled self-ruled Taiwan but it views the island as part of its territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary.

Biden made a connection between the response of Western nations to Russia’s assault on Ukraine and Beijing’s perception of the risks of military action against Taiwan.

But Wang said China would always defend its interests with the force of its 1.4 billion population.

“No one should underestimate the firm resolve, staunch will and strong ability of the Chinese people in defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he added.