The US State Department dropped the wording that it said Washington does not support Taiwan’s independence.
The State Department’s latest “fact sheet” on its website about Taiwan, a Chinese advocated autonomous island, does not include the phrase “does not support Taiwan’s independence” that was previously published on its page. yeah.
The fact sheet updated on Thursday revised a passage on Taiwan’s inclusion in international organizations by dropping a reference to “when the state is not a requirement,” and Taiwan’s dispute with China “will not be forced, forced.” “It should be resolved in a way that is acceptable to people on both sides of the strait.”
A sentence has also been added describing the Pentagon’s cooperation with Taiwan’s National Council on Science and Technology.
The State Department described the website changes as a “routine” following questions from the media.
“As it is routine, the fact sheet has been updated to notify the public about its informal relationship with Taiwan,” the spokesman told multiple media outlets.
The spokesman says the US is committed to “China’s policy” that acknowledges the position that there is only one Chinese government and that it is committed to “China’s policy” that recognizes China’s position to “maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.” It was quoted as being there.
“We oppose unilateral changes in the current situation from both sides. We support cross-sectional dialogue, peaceful, freed from coercion in a way that is acceptable to people on both sides of the channel. We expect measures to resolve differences in crossroads,” the spokesman said.
The American Institute in Taiwan, Taiwan, was the Debact Embassy in Washington, Taipei, and could not comment on Monday as it was closed in compliance with US Presidential Day. The US State Department did not respond immediately to Al Jazeera’s questions.
Even as the US downplayed the changes, the State Department had sent a message to China about its ties with Taiwan, said Yang Kuan Shun, co-founder of the U.S.-Taiwanese watch think tank.
“My feelings are that this is a rather bold move, but that doesn’t mean that the Trump administration supports Taiwan’s independence or support any kind of policy change of its nature,” Yang said. He told Al Jazeera.
“It either shows that the Trump administration and the US have an agency or that China has a say on the terms of US-China relations rather than dictating its nature. ”
Yang said the new language is notable in calling for forced Beijing to work against Taiwan, including trade sanctions and Grey Zone activities.
The official name of the Republic of China is an autonomous democracy, but maintains informal relations with many of the international community, including the United States, but is officially recognized by only a handful of countries.
Taipei considers itself to be a virtually independent state, but has never formally declared independence from Beijing.
Under the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, Washington is obligated to help Taiwan protect itself, but the law does not provide that it will not necessarily involve military intervention in the event of Chinese invasion or blockade.
Even small changes to the way US officials refer to Taiwan are being closely monitored from both Beijing and Taipei.
Former President Joe Biden has said several times that the US will “defend Taiwan” from China in the event of a conflict, but his remarks have been returned every time by the US State Department.
The State Department also temporarily removed references to Taiwan’s independence from its fact sheet when Biden was president in May 2022, but was added soon after a few weeks, Yang said I said that.
On Sunday, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the State Department’s updated “active and friendly” language as a sign of “close and friendly Taiwan US partnership.”
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia Long also announced that he has “support and positive attitude towards the US-Taiwan relationship” and that “Partnership and stability in Taiwan Strait, Taiwan’s US economy, trade and technology partnership, peace and stability in Taiwan’s international space. I was grateful for your commitment to. ”.
Lin’s remarks were seen as a bid that would prevent US President Donald Trump from imposing further tariffs on Taiwan’s products to deepen Taiwan’s investment in the United States following Taiwan’s pledge on Friday by Rai Qingte. followed the movement.
Lai described Taiwan as an “essential partner” and helped the US rebuild its high-tech manufacturing sector.
The Chinese embassies in Washington, DC and Canberra did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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