The Chinese Foreign Ministry recently accused the Trump administration of a "serious regression" in its position on the Taiwan issue, triggered by the U.S. State Department's removal of the statement "the United States does not support Taiwan independence" from its official website. This move has sparked strong dissatisfaction from Beijing, which views it as sending the wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.
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02-20, 2025The U.S. State Department stated that this update to the online fact sheet on U.S.-Taiwan relations was a "routine" operation, removing the long-standing position held by Washington that "we do not support Taiwan independence." While Taipei welcomed this, Beijing believes this move is yet another test of Sino-U.S. relations, especially against the backdrop of the Trump administration's renewed emphasis on the "America First" policy.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun urged the United States at a regular press conference to "immediately correct its mistakes," otherwise it would cause "further serious damage" to Sino-U.S. relations. He emphasized that the U.S. State Department's modification of the fact sheet on U.S.-Taiwan relations is a "serious regression" in its position on the Taiwan issue and warned Washington to be "cautious and careful" when dealing with the Taiwan issue.
Analysts point out that Chinese leaders are particularly concerned about the position of Trump's new foreign policy team on the Taiwan issue, as it is Beijing's most sensitive "red line." Trump's second cabinet is filled with China hawks, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has been a staunch supporter of Taiwan and has promoted numerous pieces of legislation aimed at strengthening U.S.-Taiwan relations, including accelerating arms sales to Taiwan.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson told Reuters in a statement that the wording change was part of a standard update aimed at informing the public about the unofficial relationship between the United States and Taiwan. The spokesperson added that the United States remains committed to its "One China Policy," which is still retained in the updated fact sheet. The United States recognizes the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and acknowledges Beijing's position that Taiwan is part of China, but has never accepted the Chinese Communist Party's claim of sovereignty over Taiwan.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung told CNN in a statement that he welcomed the modification of the website content, saying it reflected the United States' "support and positive stance" on U.S.-Taiwan relations. The latest fact sheet also states that Washington will continue to support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations, including membership "where appropriate." Previously, the fact sheet stated that Washington would continue to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations "that do not require statehood."
At the same time, China is intensifying its economic, military, and diplomatic isolation of Taiwan. Just last week, two U.S. Navy warships transited the Taiwan Strait, the first such operation since Trump took office, drawing a strong reaction from the Chinese military, which accused the U.S. action of "sending the wrong signals and increasing security risks."
