Taiwan and the US

Sir, – Now that Afghans themselves have to fight for their values and liberty, Michael McDowell asks if President Joe Biden will "stand by Taiwan or is it too now on its own?" (Opinion & Analysis, August 18th).

In 1972, President Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger said that the island was “part of China”.

President Jimmy Carter unilaterally annulled the Sino-American Mutual Defence Treaty once diplomatic relations were established with the People’s Republic of China in 1979.

The Taiwan Relations Act (reconfirmed in 2021) promises co-operation but not direct US military assistance in case of an invasion. – Yours, etc,

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Dr JOHN DOHERTY,

Gaoth Dobhair

Co Dhún na nGall.