Biden's Taiwan comments a dual warning for Beijing and Taipei

U.S. seeks to lower cross-strait tensions ahead of delicate political season

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U.S. President Joe Biden at a news conference in Tokyo on May 23. © Pool photo/Reuters

MASAHIRO OKOSHI, Nikkei Washington bureau chief

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Joe Biden's recent comment promising a military response to a Chinese attack on Taiwan appears to have been a calculated attempt to rein in both sides to maintain the status quo.

Biden answered "yes" without hesitation last week when, at a news conference in Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, a reporter asked whether the U.S. was willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan.

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