U.S. State Department Restores Phrase "Does Not Support Taiwan Independence"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. State Department is reported to have restored the phrase "We do not support Taiwan independence," which it had recently removed from its website. This move is interpreted as an effort to manage relations with China amid escalating military tensions over Taiwan's defense.

On the 28th of last month, the U.S. State Department reinstated the phrase "We do not support Taiwan independence" in the updated fact sheet on U.S.-Taiwan relations after having deleted it. Earlier, on the 5th of last month, the previously included statements that "Taiwan is a part of China" and "The U.S. does not support Taiwan independence" were removed, sparking speculation that the U.S. policy on Taiwan might have changed.

This phrase has been regarded as a very important symbol in U.S. policy toward Taiwan and China. Since establishing diplomatic relations with China in 1979 and severing official ties with Taiwan, the U.S. has supported the "One China Policy" asserted by China to define its relationship with Taiwan. This policy includes the U.S. opposing any unilateral changes to the status quo by either China or Taiwan and hoping for a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues.

However, after President Joe Biden made remarks three times since taking office, including at the joint press conference following the U.S.-Japan summit on the 23rd of last month, stating that the U.S. would defend Taiwan if China attacks, there was speculation that the U.S. might be abandoning the One China Policy along with its longstanding policy of strategic ambiguity regarding Taiwan's defense.

Previously, the U.S. enacted the Taiwan Relations Act, which stipulates that the U.S. government provides Taiwan with defensive weapons and maintains Taiwan's capacity to resist force or coercion, while adopting a policy of "strategic ambiguity" that does not explicitly commit to direct military intervention.

The reason for the U.S. government restoring the phrase is analyzed to be the increased need to ease military tensions in relations with China following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, various economic issues such as COVID-19, inflation, and economic stimulus measures have piled up, highlighting the necessity of improving relations with China.

In particular, the Biden administration has begun considering easing the high tariffs on China, a symbolic hawkish policy introduced during the previous Trump administration. This is interpreted not only as a measure to address the steep inflation, which is currently the top priority for the U.S., but also as a conciliatory gesture with China's cooperation in mind.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.