Pars Today – The unofficial shift in the U.S. government’s stance on Taiwan has provoked a reaction from China. The spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry warned that Washington must remain committed to the “One China” policy and avoid supporting Taiwan’s independence if it wishes to maintain its relations with Beijing.
The latest “fact sheet” published by the U.S. Department of State on its website regarding Taiwan no longer includes the statement, “We do not support Taiwan independence,” which was previously mentioned on this page.
This fact sheet also revised a section concerning Taiwan’s inclusion in international organizations, removing references to situations “where statehood is not a requirement.” It adds that the Taiwan-China dispute should be resolved “without coercion and in a manner acceptable to people on both sides of the strait.”
What was the previous U.S. position?
This change in official U.S. policy comes as Donald Trump, the U.S. president, unlike Joe Biden, who had pledged to defend Taiwan, has not made such a commitment and has even accused Taiwan of stealing America’s semiconductor industry.
However, Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State and a staunch advocate for Taiwan’s independence, had previously warned about the possibility of a Chinese attack on the island before the end of this decade.
Confirmation of the fact sheet
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State explained the shift in position to the media, stating: “As usual, the fact sheet has been updated to inform the public about our unofficial relationship with Taiwan.”
The spokesperson also noted that the United States remains committed to the “One China” policy. Under the “One China” principle, any country with formal diplomatic relations with Beijing is not allowed to have official ties with Taiwan.
Following the shift in U.S. tone, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense also announced that the Taiwan Strait does not belong to China.
China’s diplomatic reaction
In response to these changes, Lin Jian, spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, stated that the United States, by changing its stance on Taiwan, has significantly retreated from the One China policy. He urged the U.S. to stop supporting Taiwan’s independence to avoid further damage to bilateral relations and the stability of the Taiwan Strait.
China’s military response
Taiwan’s ministry of national defense announced on Monday that over the past 24 hours, they had tracked nine Chinese naval vessels and 41 military aircraft from Beijing around the island.
This comes as two U.S. Navy warships passed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait earlier this week, further escalating military tensions in the region.
Taiwan is officially recognized by only a small number of countries, although it maintains unofficial relations with much of the international community, including the United States.
MG/UR
