President Joe Biden said that the US would defend Taiwan if it were attacked, drawing sharp condemnation from China.
Mr Biden was pressed on the matter during a televised CBS interview on Sunday night after he evaded the question over whether Taiwan should be independent.
“But would US forces defend the island?” interviewer Scott Pelley asked him.
Mr Biden replied: “Yes, if in fact there was an unprecedented attack.”
Asked to clarify if he meant that, unlike in Ukraine, American forces would defend Taiwan if China invaded, Mr Biden answered: “Yes.”
Earlier in the interview, the president said he stood by the long-standing “One China” policy, under which the US does not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan and recognises it as part of China.
“We agree with what we signed on to a long time ago. And that there's the One China policy, and Taiwan makes their own judgments about their independence,” he said.
But China rebuked Mr Biden for his comments, claiming his words violated the policy.
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People walk past a billboard welcoming US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taipei, Taiwan. AP -
A US military aircraft carrying Ms Pelosi makes its descent at Songshan Airport in Taipei. AFP -
Supporters outside Songshan Airport welcome Ms Pelosi. Bloomberg -
Ms Pelosi is visiting Taiwan as part of a tour of Asia aimed at reassuring allies in the region. Getty Images -
A Taipei 101 skyscraper message welcomes Ms Pelosi to Taiwan. EPA -
Ms Pelosi is greeted by Joseph Wu, Taiwan's foreign minister, at Songshan Airport. EPA / Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs -
Ms Pelosi poses for a group photo with Mr Wu and other officials on the tarmac. EPA / Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs -
Ms Pelosi is the highest-ranking US official to visit the island in 25 years. Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs / AP -
Ms Pelosi poses with members of her delegation and Taiwanese officials. AP -
Police officers stand outside the Grand Hyatt Taipei. Bloomberg -
Police officers await a convoy carrying Ms Pelosi outside the Grand Hyatt Taipei. Bloomberg -
Police officers await a convoy carrying Ms Pelosi. Bloomberg -
Throngs of media wait outside the Grand Hyatt Taipei. Bloomberg -
The convoy carrying Ms Pelosi arrives at the Grand Hyatt. Bloomberg -
People hope to take a photo of Ms Pelosi's arrival outside the hotel. Reuters -
Supporters gathered outside the Grand Hyatt welcome Ms Pelosi. Bloomberg -
Demonstrators show their support for Ms Pelosi's visit. Reuters -
The Taipei 101 building lit up with a message reading 'TW hearts US'. Bloomberg -
Demonstrators in Taipei show their support of the US as Ms Pelosi arrives. Reuters -
Not everyone in Taipei is thrilled by Ms Pelosi's visit. AP
“China strongly deplores and rejects it and has made solemn complaints with the US side,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Monday.
She also urged Washington not to “send any wrong signals” to Taiwan, saying that doing so would strain US-Sino relations even further.
“There is only one China in the world, Taiwan is part of China and the government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government of China,” Ms Mao said.
A White House representative said US policy towards Taiwan has not changed.
“The president has said this before, including in Tokyo earlier this year. He also made clear then that our Taiwan policy hasn't changed. That remains true,” the representative told Reuters.
Relations between the US and China have grown increasingly fraught since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last month, with Beijing calling the trip a breach of the One China policy.
Agencies contributed to this report
