In a significant diplomatic maneuver, Chinese President Xi Jinping is pressing the Trump administration to adopt stronger language against Taiwanese independence. This request aims to shift decades of U.S. policy and would represent a substantial victory for Beijing in its campaign to assert sovereignty over the self-ruled island. The proposed change involves the U.S. officially declaring it “opposes” Taiwan’s independence, a more forceful stance than the current phrase, “do not support.”
The demand comes as Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping prepare for a crucial summit in South Korea, where trade and geopolitical issues will be fiercely negotiated. This move is seen by analysts as a test of Washington’s commitment to its long-standing policy of “strategic ambiguity.” The Trump administration has yet to decide on the matter, which is part of a larger list of demands from China.
This is not the first time such wording has been a point of contention. The State Department’s official fact sheet on Taiwan has seen similar language removed and then reinstated in the past, each time drawing sharp protests from Beijing. The current request, however, is being made directly to an administration known for its transactional approach to foreign policy, raising concerns that Taiwan’s status could become a bargaining chip.
Experts suggest that Beijing is employing an incremental strategy. “The significance is less about an imminent US policy change and more about Beijing testing Washington’s resolve,” noted Craig Singleton of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He added that China has consistently pushed this issue, aiming to “pocket small wins and then push for more.”
For Taiwan, the implications are profound. Taipei’s foreign ministry stated it is closely monitoring Beijing’s “manipulative narratives” while maintaining close communication with the U.S. Any shift in Washington’s language could be portrayed by Beijing as a weakening of American support, further isolating the democratic island on the global stage and escalating cross-strait tensions.