China, Taiwan tensions spark debate inside Biden admin as Democrats push for more forceful response

The Biden administration is grappling with how to respond to China's ramped-up aggression against Taiwan without accidentally starting a war, as bipartisan lawmakers pressure the President to get tougher on Beijing -- and fast.

Internally, assessments differ over how imminent the threat to Taiwan really is. The Pentagon's Indo-Pacific Command has watched with increasing concern as China has rapidly modernized its military and improved its training with an eye to Taiwan, sources say. But State Department officials are wary of taking a more aggressive approach, and intelligence officials have seen little evidence that China is preparing to invade.

Tensions have risen sharply in the region recently, however, and administration officials were caught off guard when China's air force dramatically ramped up its incursions into Taiwan's air defense identification zone earlier this month.