The U.S. State Department has quietly removed a key phrase from its official fact sheet on Taiwan, no longer stating that the United States “does not support Taiwan independence.”
The update, which appeared on February 13, has drawn attention from both Taiwan and China, fueling speculation about a potential policy shift under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Previously, the fact sheet explicitly affirmed Washington’s stance against Taiwan’s independence, stating, “We oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side; we do not support Taiwan independence; and we expect cross-strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means.”
In the latest version, the phrase opposing Taiwan’s independence is gone. The revised language now states, “We oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side. We expect cross-Strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to the people on both sides of the Strait.”
A State Department spokesperson downplayed the change, describing it as part of a routine update meant to inform the public about the United States’ “unofficial relationship” with Taiwan.
However, the removal of the phrase is significant given Washington’s historically cautious stance on the issue.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung welcomed the update, interpreting it as a reaffirmation of U.S. support for Taiwan.
Lin praised Washington for its “positive, Taiwan-friendly wordings” and thanked the Trump administration for continuing to uphold the Taiwan Relations Act and the “Six Assurances,” which guide U.S.-Taiwan relations. He also expressed appreciation for the recent joint statement by the United States, Japan, and South Korea, which stressed maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
China has yet to issue an official response to the fact sheet revision. China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under Beijing’s control.
However, history suggests that Beijing will likely view the change as a provocation. A similar revision occurred in 2022 under former President Joe Biden’s administration, but the removed language was reinstated shortly after China condemned the move as “political manipulation.”
The timing of this update also coincides with increased military activity in the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported that on February 17, China sent 41 warplanes and nine naval vessels near the island, with 28 aircraft crossing the median line into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy deployed the guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson and the oceanographic survey ship USNS Bowditch through the strait between February 10 and 12—an operation observers see as a message of deterrence to Beijing.
While the fact sheet change does not explicitly signal a policy shift, it marks a departure from the cautious wording that has long characterized U.S. statements on Taiwan. The question now is whether this signals a broader adjustment in Washington’s approach to cross-strait relations under Trump or if it is merely a bureaucratic revision. With tensions in the region on the rise, all eyes will be on how China responds—and whether the removed wording will reappear, as it did in 2022.