>>> WE ARE BACK WITH OUR WORLD

>>> WE ARE BACK WITH OUR WORLD LEAD.

LEAD.

LEAD. A CNN EXCLUSIVE, YOU HEARD

A CNN EXCLUSIVE, YOU HEARD

A CNN EXCLUSIVE, YOU HEARD PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PROMISE DURING

PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PROMISE DURING

PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PROMISE DURING HIS CNN TOWN HALL, THE UNITED

HIS CNN TOWN HALL, THE UNITED

HIS CNN TOWN HALL, THE UNITED STATES, HE SAID, WILL DEFEND

STATES, HE SAID, WILL DEFEND

STATES, HE SAID, WILL DEFEND TAIWAN IF IT IS ATTACKED BY

TAIWAN IF IT IS ATTACKED BY

TAIWAN IF IT IS ATTACKED BY CHINA.

CHINA.

CHINA. THE WHITE HOUSE LATER WALKED

THE WHITE HOUSE LATER WALKED

THE WHITE HOUSE LATER WALKED BACK THOSE REMARKS BUT NOW

BACK THOSE REMARKS BUT NOW

BACK THOSE REMARKS BUT NOW TAIWAN'S PRESIDENT TELLS CNN SHE

TAIWAN'S PRESIDENT TELLS CNN SHE

TAIWAN'S PRESIDENT TELLS CNN SHE IS CONFIDENT THE U.S. WOULD STEP

IS CONFIDENT THE U.S. WOULD STEP

IS CONFIDENT THE U.S. WOULD STEP UP IF BEIJING TRIED TO MAKE A

UP IF BEIJING TRIED TO MAKE A

UP IF BEIJING TRIED TO MAKE A MOVE ON THE DEMOCRATIC ISLAND.

MOVE ON THE DEMOCRATIC ISLAND.

MOVE ON THE DEMOCRATIC ISLAND. THOSE COMMENTS COMING FROM THE

THOSE COMMENTS COMING FROM THE

THOSE COMMENTS COMING FROM THE PRESIDENT'S FIRST INTERNATIONAL

PRESIDENT'S FIRST INTERNATIONAL

PRESIDENT'S FIRST INTERNATIONAL TV INTERVIEW IN NEARLY TWO YEARS

TV INTERVIEW IN NEARLY TWO YEARS

TV INTERVIEW IN NEARLY TWO YEARS WHERE SHE ALSO TELLS OUR WILL

WHERE SHE ALSO TELLS OUR WILL

WHERE SHE ALSO TELLS OUR WILL RIPLEY THE THREAT FROM CHINA IS

RIPLEY THE THREAT FROM CHINA IS

RIPLEY THE THREAT FROM CHINA IS INCREASING EVERY SINGLE DAY.

INCREASING EVERY SINGLE DAY.

INCREASING EVERY SINGLE DAY. >> Reporter: AT THIS TEMPLE IN

>> Reporter: AT THIS TEMPLE IN

>> Reporter: AT THIS TEMPLE IN TAIPEI, PRAYER AND POLITICS GO

TAIPEI, PRAYER AND POLITICS GO

TAIPEI, PRAYER AND POLITICS GO HAND IN HAND FOR TAIWAN

HAND IN HAND FOR TAIWAN

HAND IN HAND FOR TAIWAN PRESIDENT TSAI ING-WEN.

PRESIDENT TSAI ING-WEN.

PRESIDENT TSAI ING-WEN. >> NORMALLY WHEN I GO TO THE

>> NORMALLY WHEN I GO TO THE

>> NORMALLY WHEN I GO TO THE TEMPLE, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF

TEMPLE, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF

TEMPLE, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THERE.

PEOPLE THERE.

PEOPLE THERE. I WILL SHAKE HANDS WITH EACH ONE

I WILL SHAKE HANDS WITH EACH ONE

I WILL SHAKE HANDS WITH EACH ONE OF THEM.

OF THEM.

OF THEM. >> PEOPLE ARE REMARKABLY HAPPY,

>> PEOPLE ARE REMARKABLY HAPPY,

>> PEOPLE ARE REMARKABLY HAPPY, AT EASE.

AT EASE.

AT EASE. >> YOU HAVE TO GET A SENSE THAT

>> YOU HAVE TO GET A SENSE THAT

>> YOU HAVE TO GET A SENSE THAT THERE'S SOMEBODY THERE TO TAKE

THERE'S SOMEBODY THERE TO TAKE

THERE'S SOMEBODY THERE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

CARE OF THEM.

CARE OF THEM. >> Reporter: ELECTED IN 2016,

>> Reporter: ELECTED IN 2016,

>> Reporter: ELECTED IN 2016, TSAI WON RE-ELECTION BY A

TSAI WON RE-ELECTION BY A

TSAI WON RE-ELECTION BY A LANDSLIDE LAST YEAR ON A PROMISE

LANDSLIDE LAST YEAR ON A PROMISE

LANDSLIDE LAST YEAR ON A PROMISE TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE FROM WHAT

TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE FROM WHAT

TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE FROM WHAT SHE CALLS A GROWING THREAT

SHE CALLS A GROWING THREAT

SHE CALLS A GROWING THREAT ACROSS THE TAIWAN STRAIT.

ACROSS THE TAIWAN STRAIT.

ACROSS THE TAIWAN STRAIT. IS TAIWAN MORE SAFE TODAY THAN

IS TAIWAN MORE SAFE TODAY THAN

IS TAIWAN MORE SAFE TODAY THAN IT WAS WHEN YOU BECAME PRESIDENT

IT WAS WHEN YOU BECAME PRESIDENT

IT WAS WHEN YOU BECAME PRESIDENT IN 2016?

IN 2016?

IN 2016? >> IF IT'S A THREAT FROM CHINA,

>> IF IT'S A THREAT FROM CHINA,

>> IF IT'S A THREAT FROM CHINA, IT'S INCREASING EVERY DAY.

IT'S INCREASING EVERY DAY.

IT'S INCREASING EVERY DAY. >> Reporter: THE MAINLAND'S

>> Reporter: THE MAINLAND'S

>> Reporter: THE MAINLAND'S MASSIVE MILITARY, 2 MILLION

MASSIVE MILITARY, 2 MILLION

MASSIVE MILITARY, 2 MILLION STRONG, MORE POWERFUL THAN EVER.

STRONG, MORE POWERFUL THAN EVER.

STRONG, MORE POWERFUL THAN EVER. CHINA FLEW 150 WAR PLANES NEAR

CHINA FLEW 150 WAR PLANES NEAR

CHINA FLEW 150 WAR PLANES NEAR TAIWAN IN JUST FIVE DAYS THIS

TAIWAN IN JUST FIVE DAYS THIS

TAIWAN IN JUST FIVE DAYS THIS MONTH.

MONTH.

MONTH. THIS DEMOCRACY OF MORE THAN 23

THIS DEMOCRACY OF MORE THAN 23

THIS DEMOCRACY OF MORE THAN 23 MILLION GOVERNED SEPARATELY FROM

MILLION GOVERNED SEPARATELY FROM

MILLION GOVERNED SEPARATELY FROM THE MAINLAND FOR MORE THAN 70

THE MAINLAND FOR MORE THAN 70

THE MAINLAND FOR MORE THAN 70 YEARS SINCE THE END OF CHINA'S

YEARS SINCE THE END OF CHINA'S

YEARS SINCE THE END OF CHINA'S CIVIL WAR, STILL SEEN AS A

CIVIL WAR, STILL SEEN AS A

CIVIL WAR, STILL SEEN AS A BREAKAWAY PROMISE IN THE EYES OF

BREAKAWAY PROMISE IN THE EYES OF

BREAKAWAY PROMISE IN THE EYES OF BEIJING'S COMMUNIST RULERS WHO

BEIJING'S COMMUNIST RULERS WHO

BEIJING'S COMMUNIST RULERS WHO HAVE NEVER CONTROLLED THE

HAVE NEVER CONTROLLED THE

HAVE NEVER CONTROLLED THE ISLAND.

ISLAND.

ISLAND. CHINA HAS PRESSURED MOST OF THE

CHINA HAS PRESSURED MOST OF THE

CHINA HAS PRESSURED MOST OF THE WORLD TO SEVER FORMAL DIPLOMATIC

WORLD TO SEVER FORMAL DIPLOMATIC

WORLD TO SEVER FORMAL DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH TAIPEI.

TIES WITH TAIPEI.

TIES WITH TAIPEI. CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING

CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING

CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING SAYS REUNIFICATION IS ONLY A

SAYS REUNIFICATION IS ONLY A

SAYS REUNIFICATION IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME.

MATTER OF TIME.

MATTER OF TIME. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SPEAKING

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SPEAKING

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SPEAKING WITH PRESIDENT XI?

WITH PRESIDENT XI?

WITH PRESIDENT XI? WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE MORE

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE MORE

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE MORE COMMUNICATION WITH HIM?

COMMUNICATION WITH HIM?

COMMUNICATION WITH HIM? >> WELL, MORE COMMUNICATION

>> WELL, MORE COMMUNICATION

>> WELL, MORE COMMUNICATION WOULD BE HELPFUL SO THAT WE

WOULD BE HELPFUL SO THAT WE

WOULD BE HELPFUL SO THAT WE WOULD REDUCE MISUNDERSTANDING

WOULD REDUCE MISUNDERSTANDING

WOULD REDUCE MISUNDERSTANDING GIVEN OUR DIFFERENCES.

GIVEN OUR DIFFERENCES.

GIVEN OUR DIFFERENCES. DIFFERENCES IN TERMS OF OUR

DIFFERENCES IN TERMS OF OUR

DIFFERENCES IN TERMS OF OUR POLITICAL SYSTEMS.

POLITICAL SYSTEMS.

POLITICAL SYSTEMS. WE CAN SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT

WE CAN SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT

WE CAN SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT OUR DIFFERENCES AND TRY TO MAKE

OUR DIFFERENCES AND TRY TO MAKE

OUR DIFFERENCES AND TRY TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT SO THAT WE WILL BE

ARRANGEMENT SO THAT WE WILL BE

ARRANGEMENT SO THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO CO-EXIST PEACEFULLY.

ABLE TO CO-EXIST PEACEFULLY.

ABLE TO CO-EXIST PEACEFULLY. >> YOUR PREDECESSOR DID MEET

>> YOUR PREDECESSOR DID MEET

>> YOUR PREDECESSOR DID MEET WITH PRESIDENT XI.

WITH PRESIDENT XI.

WITH PRESIDENT XI. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THINGS --

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THINGS --

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THINGS -- THE COMMUNICATION HAS REALLY

THE COMMUNICATION HAS REALLY

THE COMMUNICATION HAS REALLY GONE SOUTH SINCE 2016?

GONE SOUTH SINCE 2016?

GONE SOUTH SINCE 2016? >> WELL, I THINK THE SITUATION

>> WELL, I THINK THE SITUATION

>> WELL, I THINK THE SITUATION HAS CHANGED A LOT.

HAS CHANGED A LOT.

HAS CHANGED A LOT. AND CHINA'S PLAN TOWARDS THE

AND CHINA'S PLAN TOWARDS THE

AND CHINA'S PLAN TOWARDS THE REGION IS VERY DIFFERENT.

REGION IS VERY DIFFERENT.

REGION IS VERY DIFFERENT. >> THAT PLAN INCLUDES MORE

>> THAT PLAN INCLUDES MORE

>> THAT PLAN INCLUDES MORE THREATS OVER TAIWAN.

THREATS OVER TAIWAN.

THREATS OVER TAIWAN. CLASHES WITH JAPAN AND THE EAST

CLASHES WITH JAPAN AND THE EAST

CLASHES WITH JAPAN AND THE EAST CHINA SEA.

CHINA SEA.

CHINA SEA. AND MILITARIZING MANMADE ISLANDS

AND MILITARIZING MANMADE ISLANDS

AND MILITARIZING MANMADE ISLANDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA.

IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA.

IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. POSING A DIRECT CHALLENGE TO

POSING A DIRECT CHALLENGE TO

POSING A DIRECT CHALLENGE TO SEVEN DECADES OF U.S. MILITARY

SEVEN DECADES OF U.S. MILITARY

SEVEN DECADES OF U.S. MILITARY SUPREMACY IN THE INDO-PACIFIC.

SUPREMACY IN THE INDO-PACIFIC.

SUPREMACY IN THE INDO-PACIFIC. IN RESPONSE, THE U.S. RAMPED UP

IN RESPONSE, THE U.S. RAMPED UP

IN RESPONSE, THE U.S. RAMPED UP ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN.

ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN.

ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN. SELLING THE ISLAND $5 BILLION IN

SELLING THE ISLAND $5 BILLION IN

SELLING THE ISLAND $5 BILLION IN WEAPONS LAST YEAR.

WEAPONS LAST YEAR.

WEAPONS LAST YEAR. PRESIDENT TSAI CONFIRMS TO CNN,

PRESIDENT TSAI CONFIRMS TO CNN,

PRESIDENT TSAI CONFIRMS TO CNN, U.S. SUPPORT GOES BEYOND SELLING

U.S. SUPPORT GOES BEYOND SELLING

U.S. SUPPORT GOES BEYOND SELLING WEAPONS.

WEAPONS.

WEAPONS. >> DOES THAT SUPPORT INCLUDE

>> DOES THAT SUPPORT INCLUDE

>> DOES THAT SUPPORT INCLUDE SENDING SOME U.S. SERVICE

SENDING SOME U.S. SERVICE

SENDING SOME U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS TO HELP TRAIN TAIWANESE

MEMBERS TO HELP TRAIN TAIWANESE

MEMBERS TO HELP TRAIN TAIWANESE TROOPS?

TROOPS?

TROOPS? >> WELL, YES.

>> WELL, YES.

>> WELL, YES. WE HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF

WE HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF

WE HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF COOPERATION WITH THE U.S.

COOPERATION WITH THE U.S.

COOPERATION WITH THE U.S. AIMED AT INCREASING OUR DEFENSE

AIMED AT INCREASING OUR DEFENSE

AIMED AT INCREASING OUR DEFENSE CAPABILITY.

CAPABILITY.

CAPABILITY. >> HOW MANY U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS

>> HOW MANY U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS

>> HOW MANY U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS ARE DEPLOYED IN TAIWAN RIGHT

ARE DEPLOYED IN TAIWAN RIGHT

ARE DEPLOYED IN TAIWAN RIGHT NOW?

NOW?

NOW? >> NOT AS MANY AS PEOPLE

>> NOT AS MANY AS PEOPLE

>> NOT AS MANY AS PEOPLE THOUGHT.

THOUGHT.

THOUGHT. >> Reporter: DEFENSE DEPARTMENT

>> Reporter: DEFENSE DEPARTMENT

>> Reporter: DEFENSE DEPARTMENT RECORDS SHOW THE NUMBER OF U.S.

RECORDS SHOW THE NUMBER OF U.S.

RECORDS SHOW THE NUMBER OF U.S. TROOPS IN TAIWAN INCREASED FROM

TROOPS IN TAIWAN INCREASED FROM

TROOPS IN TAIWAN INCREASED FROM 10 IN 2018 TO 32 EARLIER THIS

10 IN 2018 TO 32 EARLIER THIS

10 IN 2018 TO 32 EARLIER THIS YEAR.

YEAR.

YEAR. THE STATE DEPARTMENT ASKED FOR

THE STATE DEPARTMENT ASKED FOR

THE STATE DEPARTMENT ASKED FOR MORE MARINES TO SAFEGUARD THE

MORE MARINES TO SAFEGUARD THE

MORE MARINES TO SAFEGUARD THE UNOFFICIAL U.S. EMBASSY IN

UNOFFICIAL U.S. EMBASSY IN

UNOFFICIAL U.S. EMBASSY IN TAIPEI.

TAIPEI.

TAIPEI. ANY U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE IN

ANY U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE IN

ANY U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE IN TAIWAN, BIG OR SMALL, IS

TAIWAN, BIG OR SMALL, IS

TAIWAN, BIG OR SMALL, IS PERCEIVED BY BEIJING AS AN ACT

PERCEIVED BY BEIJING AS AN ACT