White House Does A Double Take After Biden Says US Troops Would Defend Taiwan If China Attacks

President Joe Biden affirmed that U.S. troops would move in to defend Taiwan in the event of an “unprecedented attack” in an interview with CBS News’s “60 Minutes” Sunday evening.

Biden’s comments represent the clearest statement from the U.S. on possible military intervention if something like a Chinese invasion occurred, seemingly diverting from decades of U.S. policy to avoid committing fully to Taiwan’s defense, CBS News reported.

“Would U.S. forces defend the island?” CBS News correspondent Scott Pelley asked the president.

“Yes, if in fact there was an unprecedented attack,” Biden answered.