President Joe Biden issued forceful warnings to China and Russia on Sunday and expressed optimism over the US economic rebound, but surprised many by hedging on whether he\u2019ll seek reelection.
\nIn a rare, wide-ranging interview with the CBS \u201c60 Minutes\u201d programme, Biden went back on repeated assertions by the White House that he is sure to run in 2024.
\nBiden, who turns 80 in November, told interviewer Scott Pelley that reelection is his \u201cintention\u201d. \u201cBut is it a firm decision that I run again? That remains to be seen,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s much too early,\u201d Biden said, calling himself \u201ca great respecter of fate\u201d.
\nSurveying the state of the world\u2019s largest economy, Biden was optimistic.
\nHe declared the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States \u201cover\u201d and predicted that his administration would tame inflation \u2014 the main reason for his weak approval ratings and the reason Republicans believe they can take control of Congress in the upcoming November midterms.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re going to get control of inflation,\u201d he said.
\nTroops to Taiwan?
\nIn another surprise moment, Biden once again appeared to challenge decades of US policy on Taiwan with a vow that he would send troops to defend the self-ruled island if China tried to invade.
\n\u201cYes,\u201d he said, adding that this would happen if there was \u201can unprecedented attack\u201d \u2014 possibly referring to something beyond the frequent sabre rattling conducted by Chinese military forces around Taiwan.
\nUnder the US policy known as \u201cstrategic ambiguity\u201d, Washington recognises Chinese sovereignty but opposes any forceful attempt to end Taiwan\u2019s de facto self-rule.
\nWhile Washington does arm Taiwan, there is no clear promise of direct US military support.
\nThe White House said that Biden\u2019s latest remarks do not indicate a change.
\nAfter the interview, Taiwan\u2019s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its \u201csincere gratitude\u201d for Biden\u2019s support.
\n\u201cIn the face of China\u2019s military expansion and provocative actions, our government will continue to strengthen self-defence capabilities to firmly resist the expansion and aggression of authoritarianism, and at the same time deepen the close Taiwan-US security partnership,\u201d the ministry said in a statement.
\nIn another tough message to the United States\u2019 biggest economic and geopolitical rival, Biden said he had warned President Xi Jinping not to support Russia militarily in its invasion of Ukraine.
\nHe said he told Xi that the US and other foreign investments in China would be disrupted and to think otherwise would be \u201ca gigantic mistake\u201d.
\nHe also said that if Russian President Vladimir Putin uses nuclear or other non-conventional weapons against Ukraine the US response will be \u201cconsequential\u201d.
\nWhen asked what he would tell Putin if the Russian leader was mulling such a move, he said: \u201cDon\u2019t. Don\u2019t. Don\u2019t.\u201d
\nBiden praised the Ukrainians for their gritty fight against the huge Russian invasion and said \u201cthey\u2019re defeating Russia\u201d.
\nAsked how to define victory for Kyiv, he said \u201cwinning the war in Ukraine is to get Russia out of Ukraine completely.\u201d
\nBut given the scale of human suffering and destruction inflicted in resisting the Russian onslaught, \u201cit\u2019s awful hard to count that as winning,\u201d he added.
\n\u2018More to give\u2019
\nDespite his poor ratings and polls showing Democrats likely to lose control of at least one chamber of Congress, Biden said he is upbeat.
\nNoting that employment is booming and the economy is strong, Biden said: \u201cwe hope we can have, as they say, a soft landing.\u201d
\nOn whether at his age he is physically and mentally able to continue in the gruelling job, Biden said: \u201cwatch me\u201d.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s a matter of, you know, that old expression \u2014 \u2018the proof of the pudding is in the eating.\u2019\u201d
\nWhen asked about his source of inspiration when times get tough, Biden mentioned his son Beau who died in 2015 but also his parents\u2019 exhortation to \u201cjust get up\u201d.
\nBiden said he had \u201ca lot more to give\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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