China demands US to rectify errors after removal of Taiwan independence reference from State Department website
China Urges United States to “Correct Its Mistakes” Regarding Taiwan
China has called on the United States to “correct its mistakes” after the US State Department made changes to its website that removed wording about not supporting Taiwan independence. The update was described as part of a routine update, but Beijing sees it as a step in the wrong direction.
The fact sheet on Taiwan was updated last week to maintain Washington’s opposition to any unilateral changes from either Taiwan or China, which claims sovereignty over the island. However, the phrase “we do not support Taiwan independence” was removed, and the page highlighted Taiwan’s cooperation with a Pentagon technology and semiconductor development project.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun criticized the revisions on the US State Department website, stating that they send a “seriously wrong message to Taiwan independence separatist forces.” He called on the United States to “immediately rectify its mistakes” and criticized the US policy of “using Taiwan to suppress China.”
The United States does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but it is the island’s strongest international supporter. The US is obligated by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself. A State Department spokesperson clarified that the fact sheet update was routine and aimed to inform the public about the US’s unofficial relationship with Taiwan.
The spokesperson reaffirmed the US’s commitment to its one China policy, which officially takes no position on Taiwan’s sovereignty and acknowledges China’s stance on the matter. The US also reiterated its support for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, opposing any unilateral changes to the status quo and advocating for peaceful resolution of cross-Strait differences.
