China pushes US to ‘oppose’ Taiwan independence in major shift

Request seen as attempt to further isolate self-ruled democracy on world stage

- 

Chinese President Xi Jinping is renewing a push for the United States to change a decades-old phrase describing its stance on Taiwan independence, a concession that would be a major diplomatic win for Beijing.

China has asked the Trump administration to officially declare that it “opposes” Taiwan independence, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing private information.

The suggested wording is stronger than the Biden administration’s statement that US officials “do not support” the self-ruled island seeking formal independence, and would add to China’s campaign to isolate Taiwan on the world stage. The Wall Street Journal first reported about the request.

The Trump administration has not made a decision regarding the request, and it is one in along list of asks from the Chinese side under consideration, according to a separate person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified as the information is private.

AState Department fact sheet on US ties with Taiwan is currently unavailable on its website.

Language defining the US relationship with Taiwan has long been a sensitive subject.

In February, after the State Department abruptly removed from its website a phrase saying the US does “not support Taiwan independence”, Beijing swiftly urged Washington to “correct its wrongdoings”. Prior to that, the Biden administration removed the phrase in May 2022 but reinstated it after Chinese officials protested.