U.S. State Department deletes phrase ‘U.S. does not support Taiwan independence’

Taiwan’s public central news agency reported on the 16th that the U.S. State Department has removed the clause “The United States does not support Taiwan’s independence” from its latest website introduction section.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said the U.S. State Department had made several favorable changes in content in support of Taiwan, including the deletion, in an update to its website.

In the Taiwan section of the “Introduction of Fact Sheet”, the existing phrase “the U.S. government opposes unilateral change from Taiwan or China” is maintained. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, and Taiwan refutes that only the Taiwanese people decide Taiwan’s future.

The U.S. State Department deleted the phrase “not supporting Taiwan independence,” one of the foreign principles of Taiwan’s policy, instead adding a phrase related to Taiwan’s cooperation on Pentagon technology and semiconductor development projects, Reuters noted.

The United States also wrote that it supports Taiwan’s membership in an “applicable” international organization.

The United States is required by law to provide Taiwan with a means to defend itself. However, in establishing diplomatic relations with China, it has acknowledged China’s grand principle of “one China” and has stated that it does not support Taiwan’s independence.

SAM KIM

US ASIA JOURNAL