A bristling China says Biden remarks on Taiwan "severely violate" U.S. policy

Beijing on Monday said President Biden's latest comments that the United States would defend Taiwan against a Chinese invasion "severely violate" Washington's policy toward the island.

Washington cut formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979, switching recognition to Beijing as the sole representative of China, but has maintained a decisive, if delicate, role in supporting the island since.

In a "60 Minutes" interview that aired Sunday night, Mr. Biden was asked by CBS News correspondent Scott Pelley whether U.S. troops would defend Taiwan, and he replied "yes," if it were "an unprecedented attack."

He went on to say Taiwan makes its "own judgments" about independence and the U.S. wasn't "encouraging ... their being independent."

"That's their decision," he said.