Biden: US would defend Taiwan against Chinese invasion
Beijing (AP): President Joe Biden says US forces would defend Taiwan if China tries to invade the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing as part of its territory, adding to displays of official American support for the island democracy.
Biden said yes when asked during an interview broadcast Sunday on CBS News's 60 Minutes programme whether US forces, US men and women, would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion."
CBS News reported the White House said after the interview US policy hasn't changed. That policy says Washington wants to see Taiwan's status resolved peacefully but doesn't say whether U.S. forces might be sent in response to a Chinese attack.
Tension is rising following efforts by Chinese President Xi Jinping's government to intimidate Taiwan by firing missiles into the nearby sea and flying fighter jets nearby and visits to Taipei by political figures including U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Taiwan's foreign ministry on Monday expressed sincere gratitude to Biden for affirming the U.S. government's rock-solid promise of security to Taiwan.
Taiwan will resist authoritarian expansion and aggression and deepen the close security partnership with Washington and other governments with similar thinking to protect regional stability, the statement said.
Washington is obligated by federal law to see that Taiwan has the means to defend itself but doesn't say whether US forces would be sent. The United States has no formal relations with the island but maintains informal diplomatic ties.
Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war that ended with the Communist Party in control of the mainland. The two governments say they are one country but dispute which is entitled to be the national leader.
Beijing criticizes official foreign contact with Taiwan's elected government as encouragement to make its de facto independence permanent, a step the mainland says would lead to war.
Washington says it doesn't support formal independence for Taiwan, a stance Biden repeated in the interview broadcast Sunday.
Taiwan makes their own judgments about their independence, the president said. We're not encouraging their being independent.
In May, Biden said yes when asked at a news conference in Tokyo whether he was willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan if China invaded.
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Birsa Munda's great-grandson, injured in road accident, dies of cardiovascular failure in Ranchi
Ranchi (PTI): Tribal icon Birsa Munda's great-grandson Mangal Munda, who was undergoing treatment at a hospital here after being injured in a road accident, died of "cardiovascular failure" on Friday, an official of the health facility said.
He was 45.
Mangal Munda breathed his last at 12.30 am at the state's apex health facility - Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences.
Munda sustained severe head injuries after he fell from the roof of a passenger vehicle in Jharkhand's Khunti district on November 25.
"Birsa Munda's kin Mangal Munda died of cardiovascular failure around 12.30 am. He was on a ventilator after being critically injured. We tried our best to save him but failed," RIMS Medical Superintendent Dr Hiren Birua told PTI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office, Union Health Minister JP Nadda and the Jharkhand Chief Minister's office were in touch with the RIMS authorities in connection with Munda's treatment.
