U.S. State Department Re‑answers Taiwan: “We’re Still Not Boarding the Independence Bus”
Why the Push‑Pull
Last month the State Department pulled a few words from its Taiwan fact sheet—talking about not backing Taiwan “full Independence” and acknowledging that Beijing thinks the island’s part of China. That move ruffled the folks in Beijing, so the U.S. has now swapped them back in.
What Came Out
The official rewrite reads: “We do not support Taiwan independence.” Same line appears on the fact sheet dated May 28, published on the site on June 3.
How It’s Played Out
- China’s anger erupted over the last edit, and the U.S. said it hasn’t really changed its own policy.
- State Department Spokesman Ned Price already stated in May that the U.S. is clear both publicly and privately: “We do not support Taiwan independence.”
- There’s no official U.S. diplomatic relationship with Taipei, but Washington remains Taiwan’s biggest arm‑supply partner and political backer.
Who’s Who
- Taiwan continues to call itself the Republic of China—because a party that fled the mainland in 1949 still wants its flag flying.
- Since 2005, Beijing can legally intervene militarily if it believes Taiwan has slipped into a “self‑declared break‑away” status.
- On the island, 23 million voices say the decision about their future belongs to the people. They’re ready for peace, but also ready to defend the island if needed.
Bottom Line
The U.S. simply reminded the world that, while it’s not pushing for Taiwanese independence, it’s equally committed to ensuring the island stays safe and stable—without breaking the delicate dance that keeps Beijing and Washington from throwing a full‑blown flare.
