US Sparks Chinese Outrage by Revising Taiwan Independence Statement

In a significant update, the US State Department has removed the statement asserting that it does not support Taiwan's independence from its fact sheet on Taiwan-US relations. This decision has provoked a strong backlash from China, which has accused the US of signaling support for Taiwanese independence advocates. The amended fact sheet was updated last week as part of a supposed routine revision.

While a US spokesperson reaffirmed the commitment to the "One China" policy—recognizing China while maintaining informal relations with Taiwan—the alteration has provoked concern about escalated tensions. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has not ruled out using force to assert control over the island. In contrast, many in Taiwan identify with a separate nationhood while preferring to maintain the current ambiguous status.

Aside from the removal of the independence clause, the updated factsheet indicates US support for Taiwan’s inclusion in international organizations where possible. Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressed gratitude for this "Taiwan-friendly wording." However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun criticized the US move as a serious regression and urged adherence to the One China principle.

Guo warned that this change sends an inappropriate signal to separatist groups and reflects the US's continued policy of using Taiwan to counter China, further complicating the already tense cross-strait relations.