FirstFT: Biden says US would defend Taiwan from Chinese attack

President Joe Biden said the US would defend Taiwan from a Chinese attack, in a strong warning to Beijing one month after China held large-scale military exercises in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei.

Asked in an interview on Sunday with CBS News’s 60 Minutes whether he would deploy US forces to defend Taiwan from Chinese military action, Biden replied: “Yes, if in fact there was an unprecedented attack”.

When pressed again on whether the US would send forces to defend Taiwan, in contrast to the situation in Ukraine, the president said: “Yes”.

On Monday, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Beijing “deplores and rejects” Biden’s comments and had registered “solemn complaints” with the US, according to Associated Press.

Biden has issued three similar warnings in the past, but Sunday was the first time he has done so since China reacted furiously to Pelosi’s visit with the unprecedented move of firing ballistic missiles over Taiwan.

• More from Biden’s interview: Investors wiped more than $10bn off the market value of the main Covid-19 vaccine makers yesterday after US president Joe Biden told 60 Minutes, “the pandemic is over”.

Do you think the US should step in to defend Taiwan if there was a Chinese attack? Tell me what you think at firstft@ft.com. Thank you for reading FirstFT Asia — Emily

Five more stories in the news

1. Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral ends UK period of mourning Queen Elizabeth II has completed the journey to her final resting place at Windsor after a momentous state funeral at Westminster Abbey, as world leaders joined Britons in mourning the country’s longest-serving monarch.

• The FT View: For all its grief of past days, Britain may yet come to miss its departed monarch even more than it realises.

• Related read: An official Chinese delegation was barred from attending the Queen’s lying-in-state in Westminster Hall.

2. Iranians protest woman’s death after dress code arrest Protesters clashed with security forces in Iran’s biggest cities and across its Kurdish region yesterday as anger mounted over the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian who was on a visit to Tehran, after she was detained by the Islamic republic’s morality police.

3. South Korea prosecutors seek to cancel passport of crypto boss The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office said yesterday that it asked Seoul’s foreign ministry to cancel the passport of Do Kwon, the co-founder of collapsed cryptocurrency operator Terraform Labs, alleging that he is refusing to co-operate with an investigation into the $40bn implosion of the terraUSD and luna tokens.

4. Turkish banks suspend Russian Mir cards İşbank and DenizBank, two of Turkey’s largest banks, have halted the use of the Russian Mir payment system after warnings from Washington over the risk of falling foul of US sanctions on Moscow.

5. Typhoon Nanmadol kills at least one in Japan A powerful typhoon tore through south-western Japan, bringing violent winds and torrential rain that left at least one dead, dozens injured and more than 300,000 households without power.

The day ahead

Reserve Bank of Australia minutes The minutes from policymakers’ last meeting will shed light on the rate hike put in place earlier this month.

Japan CPI figures When the August consumer price index is released today, economists expect the data to show that Japan’s core consumer inflation last month rose to a near eight-year high. (Reuters)

What else we’re reading

Indians mark the Queen’s passing with respectful indifference For Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata party, actively shedding the trappings of the British Raj is part of a broader ideological project. Indians have collectively absorbed their past and are, as Modi has said, “filling new colours to the portrait of tomorrow” in which Britain matters less.

America needs a proper risk strategy for China In Washington, fears that Beijing is planning a military invasion are growing, and America is in danger of becoming embroiled in sparring between Beijing and Taipei in the Taiwan Strait. But what would happen if supply chains and financial flows between the US and China were cut off tomorrow? What’s the day-one plan? asks Rana Foroohar.

Putin, Xi and the limits of friendship Earlier this year Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping touted their nations’ friendship that “has no limits”. But as the protracted conflict continues in Ukraine, a seriously weakened and embarrassed Russia is already a much less useful partner for China, writes Gideon Rachman.

Middle managers — on the new front line of office life Middle managers have had to deal with upheavals wrought by the pandemic, and the staff turnover through the so-called Great Resignation, which caused gaps in headcount. Now, many are charged with overseeing hybrid work plans and managing teams’ pay expectations in a period of high inflation.

The lawless world of crypto scams Fraudsters are taking advantage of a boom in cryptocurrencies to prey on individuals, with about $6.2bn stolen worldwide in 2021. The rise has exposed a gaping hole in financial regulations and consumer protections, but tracing the international networks behind crypto fraud presents huge challenges for investigators.

Your feedback

As millions tuned in to watch the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, thank you to FirstFT readers from around the world who shared their thoughts about the late monarch with us:

“Tested in so many different times — always a rock, pledging her entire life to service until the day she died. Just remarkable, especially today when viewed against our (US in particular) environment of divisiveness, hatefulness and lack of civility. One American’s view: I feel we have lost this wonderful role model of how one should lead and behave.” — Deborah Kelly, Denver, Colorado

“I am anxious about the future and what it means for the country both at home, and in the eyes of the world. At the same time, I am excited about Charles taking the throne. I am a sustainability person and the world needs to change. Charles has been banging that drum for years.” — Wayne McCance, Hampshire, England

“With her passing, what will the course for Britain be? And what of its traditions that hold a country together, give it meaning, purpose and the will of its people?” — Beatrice, New York City