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It was recently revealed that Taiwan had signed an agreement with the United States so that His army stayed two years on the island training their troops. Days later, it was learned that The island had activated an unpublished security plan to preserve your submarine cables. The maneuvers, without saying it, had a clear recipient. China’s response was A simulation “of war”. Now the United States has raised the tension a little more. And all for a simple phrase.
A subtle but significant change. The United States Department of State He has eliminated from his website the phrase that explicitly pointed out that Washington “does not support Taiwan’s independence”. No doubt, this adjustment in the language, which maintains the opposition to any unilateral change of the status quo On the part of China or Taiwan, it has been interpreted in Taipei as a support signal.
In addition, the updated document Mention Taiwanese cooperation with the pentagon in technology and semiconductorsand reaffirms the support of the United States to the inclusion of Taiwan in international organizations “where it is applicable.” China’s response has not been waiting.
What does Taiwan say. Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Lung described the change as A “sample of support and a positive posture” in bilateral relations. We remember that, in 2022, a similar elimination of the same sentence generated controversy and was reversed the following monthreflecting the delicate diplomacy around the status of the island.
On the other sidewalk, China, that Consider Taiwan an inalienable part of its territory and its “central interest of interest”he has always reacted with hostility to any gesture of support to the island by Washington. While the Taiwanese government insists that only its citizens can decide their future, Beijing sees any movement in favor of Taiwan’s sovereignty as a provocation.
Military movements and regional pressure. We have been telling In recent months. The context of these tensions arises from China’s growing military pressure on the island. If we are going very far, a few weeks ago the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense reported that 24 Chinese military planes made joint combat patrols along with warships around the island.
In parallel, The American Navy made its first transit through the Taiwan Strait since the inauguration of President Donald Trump last month, while A Canadian war ship, the Ottawa, also sailed around the areain a sample of support for regional security.
The role of the United States. Ironically, The nation does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwanbut it is its main international ally and is legally committed to providing the means for its defense. Although Trump’s administration has generated uipei in Taipei with criticism (and tariff threats) about the Taiwanese semiconductor industryhe has reaffirmed his support for the island in terms of regional safety and stability.
In addition, the new Trump administration He has generated special concern in Beijing due to the composition of his foreign policy teamin which figures known for their hard position against China stand out. Among them, the new Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has been a firm defender of Taiwanpromoting legislation to strengthen ties between Washington and Taipei, including in the equation The speed of arms sales to the island.
China’s response. And finally, the response to the Washington movement came. China has issued few hours ago a strong conviction against Donald Trump’s administration after the elimination of the phrase “We do not support the independence of Taiwan” of the website of the United States Department. Not just that. Beijing has described modification as a “serious regression” in the American position and a erroneous signal to Taiwanese independence movements.
In fact, the Chinese Foreign Ministry He has demanded Washington “to immediately correct his mistake” to avoid “even greater damage” In bilateral relations, already stressed by the return of that policy that accompanies Trump marked by the AMERICA First. Guo Jiakun, Ministry spokesman, accused the United States of using Taiwan to contain China and warned that these types of movements should be handled with “extreme caution.”
In short, China has made clear (once again) that Consider Taiwan an impassable red line and that any support from the United States to the island will be seen as a provocation. Under this scenario, the elimination of the reference to the non -independence of Taiwan on the website of the State Department could be interpreted as another step in the deepening of the American support to Taipei, feeding, if possible, a little plus the tensions in The region.
Image | 總統府
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