Biden said no to Ukraine but says yes to Taiwan

It was one of the first things Joe Biden said when Russia invaded Ukraine. He said no US troops would be sent to Ukraine to help them defend against Russian aggression. Ukraine, of course, is not a member of the Nato alliance. But now for the second time in a few months, Biden has said the US WOULD intervene militarily if China invaded Taiwan. Taiwan, of course, is not a member of the Nato alliance. So the obvious question is: if Biden is prepared to send troops, fighter jets and aircraft carrier strike groups to join in a war with China in the event of an attack on Taiwan, why was he not prepared to do the same to fight the Russians in Ukraine? Biden's comment in South Korea was in response to a direct question during a press conference about whether he would be prepared to help defend Taiwan. He said yes. No doubt at all. The White House immediately started to row back his comment, stating that what the president really meant was that the US supported the one-China policy but under US law would provide the means for Taiwan to defend itself in the event of an invasion by China. In other words, no boots on the ground. Just like Ukraine. But that's not what Biden said. No, sir. Certainly Beijing got the message and got all snotty-nosed about his remark. Perhaps Biden for once was being subtle, appearing to pledge full military support for Taiwan but really giving a warning to Beijing that it would face a nightmare in Taiwan, just like Russia is in Ukraine, because one way or the other the US would help to prevent or undermine any Chinese attempt to seize control of Taiwan. The billions of dollars of weapons being supplied to Ukraine should warn off China from doing a Putin and invading Taiwan, Biden is probably hoping. But the fact is, words mean everything, and both Beijing - and by the way President Zelensky of Ukraine - now know that the US would be prepared to send troops to Taiwan but not to Ukraine. Pretty well everyone in the White House will now be saying: "Oh God, will someone please stop the president from speaking off the cuff."