China is very touchy about the subject of Taiwan. In fact, it can be downright insane about it. The State Department changed some of the text regarding Taiwan on its website, and Beijing almost declared war.
Well, maybe not war. But you get the idea.
The phrase “we do not support Taiwan independence” didn't appear in the revised text published last week. The document also said that the two Chinas must resolve their differences peacefully and "without coercion." China objected to that addition because Beijing reserves the right to pressure Taiwan economically and militarily.
“The U.S. State Department’s revision of the fact sheet on U.S.-Taiwan relations marks a serious regression in its position on Taiwan-related issues,” Guo Jiakun, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said Monday.
“This is yet another example of how the United States has stubbornly adhered to its wrongful policy of using Taiwan to contain China,” Guo said.
It's not a "regression." It's just stating what has always been the unspoken policy of the U.S. It's still in keeping with the "strategic ambiguity" that keeps China guessing what the U.S. would do if Beijing made a military move against Taiwan.
The State Department tried to calm China's frazzled nerves.
"The United States is committed to preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," a spokesperson told NBC News Sunday.
"We oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side. We support cross-Strait dialogue, and we expect cross-Strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to people on both sides of the Strait," the statement continued.
While the U.S. subscribes to the "One China" policy that Beijing insists on, there are nuances in that stance that have been a part of U.S. policy since the 1970s.
The large sales of arms to Taiwan go on despite Beijing throwing a tantrum every time we send a few warplanes to Taipei. And to prove our support for Taiwan as well as confirm the freedom of the seas. the U.S. occasionally sends warships into the Taiwan Straits as a demonstration of solidarity with Taipei.
The State Department website has also been changed to add a reference to Taiwan’s cooperation with a Pentagon technology and semiconductor development project and to say the U.S. will continue to support Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, “including membership where applicable.”
China has consistently opposed Taiwan’s membership in international bodies such as the World Health Organization.
The website changes were praised by Taiwan, whose foreign minister, Lin Chia-lung, said in a statement Sunday that his ministry welcomed “the support and positive stance on U.S.-Taiwan relations” that they demonstrated.
In addition to the strategic ambiguity of the U.S. position, Donald Trump has made some ambiguous statements about Taiwan, claiming that Taipei "stole" the U.S. semiconductor industry and that it doesn't pay enough for U.S. defense of the island.
But the change to the State Department website was deliberate and probably came right from the top. While the change was subtle, it was unmistakable. Any change, no matter how small. to the public posture of the U.S. regarding Taiwan's status would ultimately have to have the president's approval.
“We urge the U.S. side to… correct its mistakes and prudently handle the Taiwan issue,” spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said in a statement.
“No matter how much Taiwan and the U.S. collude and scheme with each other, they will never be able to change the fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is a part of it,” she said.
Tell that to the Taiwanese people. Somehow, I doubt whether they would agree with that statement.
