U.S. State Department website changes important statements related to Taiwan

The website of the US State Department changes important statements related to Taiwan, Chinese scholars: the United States is constantly "hollowing out" its one-China policy

　　[Global Times reporter Zhao Juejun] "As a leading democratic entity and an economy with advanced technology, Taiwan is an important partner of the United States in the Indo-Pacific region." The "US-Taiwan Relations" page of the US State Department's official website recently made the above statement.

In the updated introduction on US-Taiwan relations on the 5th of this month, the US State Department deleted several important statements such as "the United States does not support Taiwan independence", and added "six guarantees" related to US arms sales to Taiwan.

Xin Qiang, deputy director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times reporter on the 9th that the change in US policy expression reflects Washington's adjustment to Taiwan's policy, and the deletion of "does not support Taiwan independence" is a big step backwards, which is constantly "pushing out". empty” the substantive content of the U.S. one-China policy.

　　The Global Times reporter saw on the official website of the U.S. State Department on the 9th that the department has made extensive adjustments and revisions to the statement on U.S.-Taiwan relations. In particular, two important contents have been deleted: "The United States does not support Taiwan independence" and "1979 The U.S.-China Joint Communiqué ("Sino-U.S. Diplomatic Communiqué") changed diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. In the joint communiqué, the U.S. recognized the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China and recognized China's position that there is only one China and Taiwan is the part of China".

　　Xinqiang analyzed in an interview with a reporter from the Global Times that the above two deletions meant that the US policy towards Taiwan was going backwards.

The change in the official statement means that the United States will continue to weaken its support for "Taiwan independence" in the future, and will not even publicly emphasize this position, let alone reflect it on the actual policy level.

At the same time, the U.S. statement of the one-China principle and "Taiwan is part of China" will also be weakened.

　　While deleting the above important content, the US State Department also added some content, such as "The United States has long pursued the one-China policy, guided by the 'Taiwan Relations Act', the three US-China Joint Communiqués and the 'Six Assurances' to Taiwan" , and that "Taiwan has become an important U.S. partner in trade and investment, health, semiconductor and other critical supply chains, investment screening, technology, education, and advancing democratic values."

　　In the above additions, the "six guarantees" appear for the first time.

According to US media reports, the so-called "six guarantees" are commitments made by the US to Taiwan in 1982, including the US' failure to agree to set a date for terminating arms sales to Taiwan; Solicit opinions; will not act as a mediator between Taipei and Beijing; not agree to amend the "Taiwan Relations Act"; not change its position on Taiwan's "sovereignty"; Republic to negotiate.

Xinqiang told the Global Times reporter that the "six guarantees" existed during the Reagan administration and were made public during Trump's presidency.

In 2016, the US House of Representatives and the Senate passed a joint resolution stating that the "Six Assurances" and the "Taiwan Relations Act" are the cornerstones of US-Taiwan relations.

　　The spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has previously stated that whether the so-called "Taiwan Relations Act" or the "Six Guarantees" to Taiwan are purely concocted by some forces in the United States, they are all contrary to the three Sino-US joint communiques. The essence is that the domestic law of the United States overrides international obligations, which is illegal and invalid.

　　Xinqiang believes that the revision of the official statement of the US State Department means that Washington is constantly "hollowing out" its one-China policy, that is, the substantive content of the one-China principle emphasized by the Chinese side.

The one-China policy of the United States is constantly going backwards like "cutting sausages".

Xinqiang also predicted that in terms of specific actions, the United States will further enhance the substantive relationship between the United States and Taiwan in the future, such as mutual visits of officials or support for Taiwan's "meaningful participation in the United Nations system."

On the other hand, the United States may also have a stronger response to the mainland's actions to deter "Taiwan independence", such as increasing arms sales to Taiwan or strengthening intelligence sharing, etc., and will increasingly support the DPP authorities to resist the so-called "Taiwan independence" "Pressure" on the mainland.

　　In fact, the United States has been conducting similar manipulations recently.

According to foreign media reports, the 75th World Health Assembly will be held in Geneva, Switzerland on the 22nd of this month, and Taiwan has not yet received an invitation letter this time.

On the 27th of last month, the US House of Representatives passed a bill claiming to assist Taiwan in regaining its observer status.

Earlier last month, a bipartisan congressional delegation consisting of six members of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including Chairman Menendez, visited Taiwan. After the delegation's visit to Taiwan, US congressmen visited Taiwan again, and it was also the fourth US congressional delegation to visit Taiwan after the Biden administration took office.

　　While U.S. congressmen are "supporting" the DPP authorities in various ways, the U.S. military has also continuously launched provocative actions in the Taiwan Strait.

On the 26th of last month, the guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson sailed through the Taiwan Strait and made public hype. Shi Yi, a spokesman for the Eastern Theater Command, said at the time, "The United States frequently carries out such provocative actions and sends a wrong signal to the 'Taiwan independence' forces. We are firmly opposed to deliberately undermining the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait."

From May 6th to 8th, the PLA Eastern Theater Command conducted actual military drills in the sea and airspace east of Taiwan Island and southwest of China.

Military experts said that the frequent collusion between the United States and Taiwan has made the PLA increase its preparations for military struggle.