China Accuses US of Serious Retreat on Taiwan Issue

BEIJING, China — The U.S. State Department has faced criticism from China following its recent revision of a fact sheet that omitted a line explicitly opposing Taiwanese independence. This revision has drawn ire from China’s Foreign Ministry, leading to accusations that the United States is sending mixed signals to “separatist forces” in Taiwan.

Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that the U.S. has “gravely backpedaled” on its stance regarding Taiwan. He urged Washington to cease its support for Taiwanese independence, warning that such actions could further damage relations between China and the United States, as well as disrupt peace in the Taiwan Strait.

The island of Taiwan and mainland China split in 1949 following a civil war, which resulted in the Nationalists retreating to Taiwan, where they established a rival government. While Taiwan maintains its own government and military, it has never formally declared independence from China.

Last week, the State Department removed the phrase “we do not support Taiwan independence” from its online document about U.S.-Taiwan relations. Although Taiwan’s government welcomed this revision, it refrained from specifically addressing the omitted language.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the update from the U.S. State Department, highlighting the positive tone that underscored the close partnership between Taiwan and the United States.

This change is not unprecedented; the State Department had previously dropped the same phrase in May 2022 before reinstating it amid strong protests from China. The current omission raises questions about the consistency of U.S. foreign policy, particularly under the recent return of former President Donald Trump to the White House.

There are concerns in Taiwan that Trump may not demonstrate the same support for the island as his predecessor, Joe Biden. The United States has historically been Taiwan’s strongest ally, though it does not officially recognize the island as an independent nation.

In related remarks, Trump voiced dissatisfaction with Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, suggesting he wants to see a return of chip manufacturing to the United States. Meanwhile, China has intensified military exercises around Taiwan in recent years, asserting claims of control over the territory.

The U.S. government has indicated that it expects any differences between Taiwan and China to be resolved peacefully and without coercion, in a manner that is acceptable to both sides.