The White House has taken back some remarks that President Biden made at a CNN Town Hall Thursday night.
A White House official stated that the Biden administration was not actively seeking to use the National Guard at a federal level.
According to multiple news outlets, the official clarified that the governors have the authority to request the use of the National Guard at state level.
The president replied, “The answer is yes,” and asked if the guard would be sent in to help with supply chain problems that are leading to product shortages as well as rampant inflation. He added, “Absolutely, positively.”
When asked if he would send in the guard to drive trucks he replied: “Yes, if there isn’t an increase in truckers.”
The president answered, “Yes,” and asked if he would send in the guard for supply chain issues that are leading both to product shortages, and rampant inflation.
Cargo container trucks stand in line to enter AMP Terminals at Port of Los Angeles on Oct. 20,
A White House official stated that the Biden administration was not actively seeking to use the National Guard at a federal level.
Biden stated that he had a schedule for first getting the ports up and running before he called up the guard. He cited commitments from major corporations like Walmart and FedEx to run 24/7 operations to support the congested supply chain.
Bill Sullivan is the executive vice president for advocacy for the American Trucking Associations. He stated that National Guard members with a commercial driver’s licence are likely to be already driving trucks.
“And the freight network’s private, so which company’s products would be hauled by the National Guard? According to the Wall Street Journal Sullivan stated in a statement that he had made. Sullivan stated that while we understand why elected officials are seeking help, the deployment of the Guard for freight hauling is not feasible. This would only make the current situation worse.
Haulage companies offer six-figure salaries and $15,000 sign on bonuses, while trying to attract 80,000 drivers to help alleviate the nation’s supply shortage.
White House advisers were forced by Biden to clarify a comment he made about the US’s defense of Taiwan in the event China attacked, in violation of a long-standing policy.
When asked about Taiwan defense, he replied “Yes,” in a CNN townhall. ‘We have a promise to that.
Biden’s statement was inconsistent with the US policy known as “strategicambiguity”, where Washington helps Taiwan’s defenses, but does not explicitly promise assistance in the case of an attack.
A spokesperson for the White House stated that Biden had not announced any changes in US policy after Thursday’s town hall.
The Taiwan Relations Act is the basis of the US defense relationship to Taiwan.
According to the spokesperson, “We will keep our commitment under the Act, we will continue support Taiwan’s self defense, and we will continue against any unilateral changes in the status quo.”
China’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun said that China was working towards ‘peaceful integration’ with Taiwan, and was responding to the’separatist attacks’ by its ruling Democratic Progressive Party.
He stated, “We are not the troublemaker,” even though Taiwan has repeatedly said it doesn’t want to’reunite” with China and would prefer to remain an independent democracy.
‘On the contrary, some countries – the US in particular – is taking dangerous actions, leading the situation in Taiwan Strait into a dangerous direction.
“Dragging Taiwan into war is definitely not in anyone’s best interests.”
Biden also pledged to protect Taiwan in August, during an interview with ABC. He said that the United States would always support key allies, including Taiwan despite withdrawing from Afghanistan to face the victorious Taliban.
Critics seized on this withdrawal to show that Biden would be soft in defending allies. They also saw him accused of potentially supporting Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vow to retake Taiwan.
Biden stated that the United States made a “sacred commitment” to defend NATO allies in Canada, Europe, and that it is the same with Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
Reporters were then informed by the White House that the US policy on Taiwan had not changed.
Asked by an audience member Thursday about China’s rapidly-growing military might, Biden said: ‘Don’t worry about whether… they’re going to be more powerful.’
“China, Russia and all the rest know that we have the most powerful military ever assembled.”
Biden expressed concern about the possibility that other countries might engage in activities that could lead to a serious error.
He referred to his long-standing relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and reiterated his position that he doesn’t want to’start a new Cold War’ with China.
He warned, however: “I just want China to understand that we won’t be moving back.”