China condemns US after line on 'Taiwan independence' cut from site

The U.S. State Department recently removed a statement from its official website that previously indicated Washington did not support Taiwan's independence. This action has triggered strong dissatisfaction from China, which believes it sends the wrong signal.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that the modification "sends a wrong...signal to the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces" and urged the United States to "correct its mistake." Previously, the U.S. State Department's fact sheet on U.S.-Taiwan relations included the phrase "We do not support Taiwan independence," but this wording was removed last week, with the U.S. stating it was part of a "routine" update.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson stated that the United States remains committed to its "one China" policy, which means the U.S. recognizes and maintains formal relations with China, not Taiwan. China views the self-governing Taiwan as a province that must eventually be reunified with the mainland, not ruling out the use of force to achieve this goal.

In addition to removing the relevant wording, the updated fact sheet also stated that the United States would support Taiwan's membership in international organizations "where appropriate." A spokesperson for the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the de facto U.S. embassy in Taiwan, told local media that the fact sheet had been "updated to inform the public about [the U.S.]'s unofficial relationship with Taiwan." The spokesperson also emphasized: "We have long made clear that we oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo by either side."

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressed gratitude for the U.S. move, calling it "positive and Taiwan-friendly wording." However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jia Kun condemned the move at a regular press conference, calling the modification a "serious backsliding" of the U.S. position on the Taiwan issue and urging the United States to "immediately correct its mistake and earnestly abide by the one-China principle."