Bernie Sanders says he would use military force if China attacked Taiwan as he denies being a pacifist
Democratic candid
ate
Bernie Sanders said if he was elected president he would 'absolutely' use the military if
China attacked Taiwan.
The presidential 2020 hopeful said if he were in the White House he would authorize military force if warranted, both to protect US interests and to support its allies.
He also denied being a pacifist, declared his support for NATO and added he would be willing to meet with the North Korean dictator,
Kim Jong-un, as President
Donald Trump has done on three occasions.
In the interview that aired on Sunday on CBS's '60 Minutes', the Vermont senator was asked in what circumstances he, as commander-in-chief, would deploy US military forces.
He listed these criteria: 'Threats against the American people, to be sure. Threats against our allies. I believe in NATO.
When interviewer, Anderson Cooper, asked whether he would order military action if Taiwan came under attack from China, Sanders replied: 'Yeah. I mean, I think we have got to make it clear to countries around the world that we will not sit by and allow invasions to take place, absolutely.'
The senator, who scored a resounding victory Saturday in the Nevada presidential caucuses, was asked if he would follow Trump's example and meet with the North Korean leader.
'Yeah, I mean I've criticized Trump for everything...' he said. 'But meeting with people who are antagonistic is, to me, not a bad thing.'
Bernie Sanders says he would use military force if China attacked Taiwan and denies being a pacifist | Daily Mail Online