China has accused the Trump administration of “serious regression” in its position on Taiwan, after the State Department removed a line from its website stating that the US does not support Taiwan independence.
In what it called a “routine” update to its online fact sheet on US relations with Taiwan last week, the State Department dropped the phrase “we do not support Taiwan independence” – a position long held by Washington.
The change was welcomed by Taipei but triggered one of the strongest rebukes from Beijing since Donald Trump returned to the White House. China’s ruling Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy as its own territory, and has vowed to take control of the island one day, by force if necessary.
China’s Foreign Ministry urged the US on Monday to “immediately correct its mistakes” over the removal of the line, or risk “further serious damage” to China-US relations which are being tested once again by the return of Trump’s “America First” policy.
“The US State Department’s revision of the list of facts regarding US-Taiwan relations represents a serious regression in its stance on Taiwan…(and) sends a seriously erroneous message to the separatist forces advocating for Taiwan independence,” ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular news conference.
“This is further evidence of the US stubbornly adhering to the erroneous policy of using Taiwan to contain China. We urge the US to immediately correct its mistakes,” Guo added, warning Washington to handle the Taiwan issue with “utmost caution.”
Analysts have said that Chinese leaders are particularly concerned about Trump’s new foreign policy team’s stance on Taiwan, the reddest of red lines for Beijing.
Trump’s second term cabinet is stacked with prominent China hawks, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rubio has been a steadfast supporter of Taiwan. The former senator has previously pushed for a raft of legislation to strengthen ties between Washington and Taipei, including fast-tracking US arms sales to the island.
In a statement to Reuters, the State Department described the wording change as part of a standard update.
“As is routine, the fact sheet was updated to inform the general public about our unofficial relationship with Taiwan,” a State Department spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that the US remains committed to its “one China policy” – a line that is still stated in the updated fact sheet.
Under what is known as the “one China policy,” the US recognizes the People’s Republic as the sole legitimate government of China; it also acknowledges Beijing’s position that Taiwan is part of China, but has never accepted the Chinese Communist Party’s claim of sovereignty over the island.
“The United States is committed to preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” the spokesperson told Reuters.
The wording on Taiwan independence was also removed in 2022 from the State Department website, only to be restored a month later, according to Reuters.
The latest fact sheet also said that Washington will continue to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations, including membership “where applicable.” It previously stated that Washington will continue to support Taiwan’s membership in international organizations “where statehood is not a requirement,” according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency, which first reported on the change in wording.
Under Xi Jinping, China’s most assertive leader in a generation, Beijing has sought to isolate Taiwan economically, military and diplomatically, including preventing Taiwanese membership of major global bodies.
Last week, two US Navy ships sailed through the Taiwan Strait in the first such mission since Trump took office, drawing an angry response from China’s military, which accused the US action of “sending the wrong signals and increasing security risks.”