China has strongly criticized the United States after the US State Department removed key wording from its website that previously stated it does not support Taiwan independence. The Chinese government has urged Washington to “correct its mistakes”, calling the change a dangerous shift in policy.
Website Changes Spark Diplomatic Tensions
The fact sheet on Taiwan, updated last week, continues to assert Washington’s opposition to unilateral moves by either Taiwan or China. However, it no longer includes the explicit phrase, “we do not support Taiwan independence.” Additionally, the update highlights Taiwan’s participation in a Pentagon technology and semiconductor project and states that the US will support Taiwan’s membership in international organizations “where applicable.”
These revisions come just weeks after US President Donald Trump began his second term in office, a period already marked by heightened geopolitical tensions between Beijing and Washington.
China’s Response: A “Serious Wrong Message”
Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun denounced the website changes, warning they encourage Taiwan separatist forces.
“This is yet another example of the United States’ attempt to suppress China by using Taiwan,” Guo stated. “We urge the United States to immediately rectify its mistakes.”
China views any foreign engagement with Taiwan as an effort to legitimize the island’s separate status and regularly protests against official interactions between Taipei and international governments.
US Defends Update, Reaffirms “One China” Policy
In response, a US State Department spokesperson said the update was a routine change meant to reflect the “unofficial relationship” between Washington and Taipei.
“The United States remains committed to its One China policy,” the spokesperson said, reiterating that the US does not take an official position on Taiwan’s sovereignty but acknowledges China’s claims.
“The United States is committed to preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” the official added. “We oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side and support cross-Strait dialogue to resolve differences peacefully.”
Taiwan Welcomes US Support
Reacting to the updated wording, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressed gratitude for what he described as Washington’s positive stance on US-Taiwan relations.
Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, insisting that only the island’s people can determine their future. Officially, Taiwan refers to itself as the Republic of China, a government that retreated to the island in 1949 after losing the Chinese Civil War to Mao Zedong’s Communist Party.
As tensions continue to escalate between China and the US, the latest diplomatic rift signals a growing divide over Taiwan’s status, potentially adding to the already complex dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region.
