U.S. committed to arming Taiwan after Biden-Xi talks: Austin

JAKARTA -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Thursday renewed Washington's commitment to arming Taiwan, suggesting that the U.S. will continue to develop military ties with the island even amid resumed dialogue with China.

"With the Taiwan Relations Act, we are committed to doing what's necessary to help Taiwan acquire the means to defend itself," Austin told a small group of reporters in Jakarta on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Plus conference.