China’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern on Monday over a revision to a U.S. government fact sheet that removed a statement opposing Taiwan’s independence. Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun accused the United States of “gravely backpedaling” on its stance regarding Taiwan, asserting that the change in policy sent a harmful message to “separatist forces” on the island.
Taiwan and China separated in 1949 following the civil war, which resulted in the communist victory on the mainland. The defeated Nationalist forces retreated to Taiwan and established a separate government. Taiwan maintains its own government and military but has never officially declared independence from China.
Guo urged the U.S. to stop supporting Taiwan’s independence, warning that such actions could harm U.S.-China relations and destabilize the Taiwan Strait region. The Taiwan Strait is a narrow body of water that separates Taiwan from China’s eastern coastline.
Last week, the U.S. State Department updated a fact sheet on its relationship with Taiwan, removing the phrase “we do not support Taiwan independence.” The document, which outlines America’s stance on the self-governing island, is available on the State Department’s website.
Taiwan’s government expressed approval of the recent update, although a statement sent to The Associated Press on Monday did not specifically address the removal of the phrase.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has noted that the U.S. State Department updated the ‘Current State of U.S.-Taiwan Relations’ page with text that is positive and friendly toward us, reflecting the close and amicable partnership between Taiwan and the United States,” the statement said.
This isn’t the first time the U.S. State Department has removed the phrase. It was also taken out in May 2022 but was reinstated shortly after following strong objections from China.
The reason behind the recent change and whether it reflects a shift in policy under President Donald Trump, who returned to office last month, remains unclear.
The Taiwanese government is concerned that President Trump may not be as reliable a supporter of Taiwan as his predecessor, Joe Biden.
While the U.S. does not officially recognize Taiwan as a country, it remains the island’s strongest ally and primary arms supplier.
Trump recently remarked that Taiwan, a key producer of semiconductors, has taken the chip industry away from the U.S. and expressed his desire for it to return.
China, which insists Taiwan must eventually come under its control, has increased its military activities near the island, which has a population of 23 million. The U.S. government fact sheet maintains that it expects any differences to be resolved peacefully, without coercion, in a way that is acceptable to people on both sides.