The US State Department has made significant changes to its Taiwan webpage, removing language stating that it does not support Taiwan's formal independence. While maintaining its opposition to unilateral changes from either Taiwan or China, the updated fact sheet highlights Taiwan's cooperation with the Pentagon on technology and semiconductors and expresses support for its international organization membership.
The US State Department announced a routine update to the Taiwan section of its website, sparking celebrations in Taipei. The changes include the removal of previous wording stating Washington did not support Taiwan's formal independence. While the updated fact sheet maintains the US's opposition to unilateral changes from either Taiwan or China, which views the democratically governed island as its own territory, several notable additions have been made.
These include a reference to Taiwan's participation in a Pentagon technology and semiconductor development project and a statement expressing US support for Taiwan's membership in international organizations 'where applicable.' The update comes roughly three weeks after the inauguration of US President Donald Trump for his second term. The United States, like most countries, maintains no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is its most prominent international supporter, legally obligated to provide the island with the means to defend itself. A State Department spokesperson, in an email sent late Sunday Taiwan time, clarified that the routine fact sheet update aimed to inform the public about the unofficial relationship between the US and Taiwan. The spokesperson reiterated the US commitment to its one China policy, acknowledging China's position on Taiwan's sovereignty without taking a stance on the issue itself. The spokesperson emphasized the US's dedication to preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, urging opposition to any unilateral changes to the status quo by either side. The spokesperson further stated that the US supports cross-Strait dialogue and expects any differences to be resolved peacefully, free from coercion, and acceptable to both sides. As of yet, China's foreign ministry has not issued a statement regarding the changes in the website's wording. On Sunday, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressed gratitude for what he termed the 'support and positive stance on US-Taiwan relations.' Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, asserting that only the island's people have the right to determine their future. Taiwan maintains that it is already an independent nation known as the Republic of China. This self-declared Republic emerged after the Chinese Communist Party's victory in the Chinese Civil War in 1949, leading to the retreat of the Republic of China government to Taiwan
TAIWAN CHINA UNITED STATES STATE DEPARTMENT ONE CHINA POLICY INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS US-TAIWAN RELATIONS
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