U.S. in Talks With Australia on Responses to War Over Taiwan, Diplomat Says [View all]

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The U.S. is undertaking “strategic planning” with its Australian ally to consider potential joint responses to a war over Taiwan, according to President Joe Biden’s top diplomat in Canberra. “We’re committed as allies to working together -- not only in making our militaries interoperable and functioning well together, but also in strategic planning,” Michael Goldman, the U.S. Embassy’s chargé d’affaires, said in an Australian National University podcast released Thursday, when asked about a potential role for Australia in a Taiwan contingency.

While Australia regularly hails its history of being involved in every major American conflict over the past century, it’s yet to officially commit to taking part in a potential conflict over Taiwan. The U.S. also makes no iron-clad guarantees it will come to Taiwan’s defense if China makes good on threats to invade, only agreeing to help the separately ruled economy maintain its capacity for self defense.

The comments risk inflaming U.S.-China relations as Beijing hits back hard over criticism from Western countries over everything from allegations of forced labor in Xinjiang to cracking down on democracy advocates in Hong Kong to increased intimidation of Taiwan. President Xi Jinping’s government views all of them as “internal matters,” and has begun to lash out at companies that take a position on them.

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