TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The first presidential debate between U.S. President Biden and former President Trump is scheduled for Thursday at 9 p.m. ET. It will feature columnists from various media, posing questions about pivotal policies to the candidates, including potential U.S. military intervention if China attacks Taiwan.
President Biden has consistently pledged to defend Taiwan, whereas Trump has not publicly committed to any action. Journalist Josh Rogin, who specializes in the Taiwan Strait, challenges the candidates to disclose whether they would deploy U.S. forces to defend Taiwan.
Rogin cautions that U.S. military intervention could escalate into a major war with China, pulling in key regional allies. Conversely, not acting could jeopardize global democracy by allowing China to forcibly annex Taiwan. According to Rogin, a clear response could redefine U.S. foreign policy, moving away from the longstanding strategy of strategic ambiguity regarding China and Taiwan.
CNN, organizing the debate, announced that anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will focus on managing the discussion time effectively and maintaining decorum during the debate.