US Denies Supporting Taiwan Independence Amid Rising Tensions with China

MAY 13 2022·Updated JAN 2 2023

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The Facts

US govt. officials denied on Wed. that Washington's stance toward Taiwan has changed, after facing criticism from Beijing over a State Department fact sheet that was updated last week to no longer explicitly state that it considers the island part of China.
South China Morning Post
This comes after China's military said on Wed. that it had tracked and warned a US guided-missile cruiser in the Taiwan Strait, accusing the White House of showing support for "Taiwan secessionist forces."
Al Jazeera
The USS Port Royal warship sailed through the waterway separating the island from mainland China, marking the second such transit in two weeks and the fifth so far this year.
Stripes
The US Navy's 7th Fleet described it as a "routine" transit through international waters "in accordance to international law."
Reuters
Taiwan's officials report that, also on Tues., a Chinese attack helicopter flew across the center of the median line. This is the first such crossing by a Chinese military aircraft since Sept. 2020.
Newsweek
On Mon., the PLA's Eastern Theatre Command said it had carried out military exercises near Taiwan over the weekend. During the drills, several Chinese aircrafts reportedly entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone, but no shots were fired.
Channelnewsasia

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The Spin

Anti-China narrative

The US' traditional strategy of ambiguity with regard to Taipei must be reformed in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Washington must stand for freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in the Pacific.

Project Syndicate

Pro-China narrative

The US is playing political games. Regardless, even if Washington were to abandon its commitment to the one-China policy, the declining nation has long since lacked the leverage to intimidate China.

Global Times