Reuters: Numerous reports have noted that the US State Department’s website has recently updated its page on US-Taiwan relations, removing expressions such as “Taiwan is part of China” and “The United States does not support Taiwan independence”. Does the foreign ministry have any comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: There is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. The Chinese government is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. This is a universally-recognized norm governing international relations and common consensus of the international community. History brooks no falsification, facts cannot be denied, and right and wrong should not be distorted. The US has made solemn commitments on the Taiwan question and the one-China principle in the three China-US joint communiqués. The US’ latest modification of the fact sheet is a trick to obscure and write off the one-China principle. Such political manipulation of the Taiwan question and the attempt to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait will hurt the US itself.

The US should abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three joint communiqués, follow through the political commitments on the Taiwan question it made to China, and fulfill President Biden’s statement that the US does not support “Taiwan independence” with real actions. It should stop engaging in political manipulation of Taiwan-related issues and containing China with the Taiwan question.