China has accused the Trump administration of \u201cserious regression\u201d in its position on Taiwan, after the State Department removed a line from its website stating that the US does not support Taiwan independence. <\/p>\n
In what it called a \u201croutine\u201d update to its online fact sheet on US relations with Taiwan last week, the State Department dropped the phrase \u201cwe do not support Taiwan independence\u201d \u2013 a position long held by Washington. <\/p>\n
The change was welcomed by Taipei but triggered one of the strongest rebukes from Beijing since Donald Trump returned to the White House. China\u2019s ruling Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy as its own territory, and has vowed to take control of the island one day, by force if necessary. <\/p>\n
China\u2019s Foreign Ministry urged the US on Monday to \u201cimmediately correct its mistakes\u201d over the removal of the line, or risk \u201cfurther serious damage\u201d to China-US relations which are being tested once again by the return of Trump\u2019s \u201cAmerica First\u201d policy. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe US State Department\u2019s revision of the list of facts regarding US-Taiwan relations represents a serious regression in its stance on Taiwan\u2026(and) sends a seriously erroneous message to the separatist forces advocating for Taiwan independence,\u201d ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular news conference. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is further evidence of the US stubbornly adhering to the erroneous policy of using Taiwan to contain China. We urge the US to immediately correct its mistakes,\u201d Guo added, warning Washington to handle the Taiwan issue with \u201cutmost caution.\u201d <\/p>\n
Analysts have said that Chinese leaders are particularly concerned about Trump\u2019s new foreign policy team\u2019s stance on Taiwan, the reddest of red lines for Beijing. <\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s second term cabinet is stacked with prominent China hawks, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. <\/p>\n
Rubio has been a steadfast supporter of Taiwan. The former senator has previously pushed for a raft of legislation to strengthen ties between Washington and Taipei, including fast-tracking US arms sales to the island. <\/p>\n
In a statement to Reuters, the State Department described the wording change as part of a standard update. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs is routine, the fact sheet was updated to inform the general public about our unofficial relationship with Taiwan,\u201d a State Department spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that the US remains committed to its \u201cone China policy\u201d \u2013 a line that is still stated in the updated fact sheet. <\/p>\n
Under what is known as the \u201cone China policy,\u201d the US recognizes the People\u2019s Republic as the sole legitimate government of China; it also acknowledges Beijing\u2019s position that Taiwan is part of China, but has never accepted the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s claim of sovereignty over the island. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe United States is committed to preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,\u201d the spokesperson told Reuters. <\/p>\n
The wording on Taiwan independence was also removed in 2022 from the State Department website, only to be restored a month later, according to Reuters. <\/p>\n
The latest fact sheet also said that Washington will continue to support Taiwan\u2019s meaningful participation in international organizations, including membership \u201cwhere applicable.\u201d It previously stated that Washington will continue to support Taiwan\u2019s membership in international organizations \u201cwhere statehood is not a requirement,\u201d according to Taiwan\u2019s Central News Agency, which first reported on the change in wording. <\/p>\n
Under Xi Jinping, China\u2019s most assertive leader in a generation, Beijing has sought to isolate Taiwan economically, military and diplomatically, including preventing Taiwanese membership of major global bodies. <\/p>\n
Last week, two US Navy ships sailed through the Taiwan Strait in the first such mission since Trump took office, drawing an angry response from China\u2019s military, which accused the US action of \u201csending the wrong signals and increasing security risks.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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