The United States does not support independence for Taiwan, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a news briefing on May 11.
"We do not support Taiwan independence and we have repeatedly made this clear both in public and in private," the spokesman said in response to a reporter's question. "Though the United States does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan and does not support Taiwan independence, we do have, as you know, a robust unofficial relationship with Taiwan as well as an abiding interest in maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits."
Price added: "the United States remains committed to our longstanding 'one China' policy which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three U.S.-China Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances."
The spokesman went on to talk about the importance of arming Taiwan's defense efforts, evidenced by contracts with the island nation.
State Newswire previously reported that the U.S. State Department recently edited its website to remove claims that Taiwan was a part of China and that the United States does not support Taiwanese independence. The change may have taken place on May 5 before being amplified by Chinese and Taiwanese media.
Asked about the changes, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian responded that "There is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory."
He went on to claim that the website edits showing more support for a free Taiwan were antithetical to the U.S. policy in practice, and would only hurt the U.S.
