BEIJING — China’s Foreign Ministry expressed strong dissatisfaction on Monday regarding a recent revision by the U.S. government that omitted a statement about America’s opposition to Taiwanese independence.
The ministry’s spokesperson criticized the United States for “gravely backpedaling” on its Taiwan stance, arguing that this sends a troubling message to what he referred to as “separatist forces” on the island.
Since the split in 1949, Taiwan has operated with its own government and military but has not declared formal independence from China, which views Taiwan as a breakaway province.
“We urge the U.S. to cease its support for Taiwan independence, as this could further harm China-U.S. relations and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” the spokesperson stated during a press briefing.
The Taiwan Strait is a critical maritime route separating Taiwan from the eastern coast of China.
Last week, the U.S. State Department removed the phrase “we do not support Taiwan independence” from its official fact sheet on relations with Taiwan, accessible on its website.
The Taiwanese government greeted this change, highlighting the updated text as positive and reflecting the strong partnership between Taiwan and the United States.
This is not the first instance of such a revision; a similar phrase was eliminated in May 2022 but was reinstated after significant protests from China.
It remains unclear why the U.S. State Department opted for this new language change or whether it indicates a shift in policy following the return of Donald Trump to the White House.
Concerns are mounting in Taiwan that Trump may not exhibit the same level of support for the island as former President Joe Biden.
While the U.S. does not officially recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation, it remains its most prominent ally and the largest supplier of military arms.
In a recent statement, Trump indicated that Taiwan, a major semiconductor producer, has shifted business away from the U.S. and expressed his desire for this industry to return to American shores.
Meanwhile, China has intensified military exercises near the island, asserting that Taiwan must eventually come under its control. The U.S. government has stated that it anticipates “differences to be resolved by peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to the people on both sides.”
