The US Department of State has removed a statement on its website that it does not support Taiwan independence. It now says the US would support Taiwan’s membership in international organizations where applicable,, words that Thailand’s foreign minister’s has welcomed We’ll, how significant this? Let’s bring in Gran WTH,TH, who is a senior policanalystst at Asia-Pacific Development Diplomacy and Defense Dialogue, ins us from Melbourne. Grant, what do we make of this? ow How meaningful is this change in wordy??

I think it’s slightly meaningful. limmu, I think potentially it’s done solely to antagonize Beijing, but it also reflects a reality that, uh, Taiwan is an independent country. try. Beijing can’t issue so much as a parking fine. Taipei, ‘s it’s a reflection of the reality. I think the more meaningful part is on the international institutions and supporting Taiwan’s participation in international institutions. Um, Taiwan lost its status in the Health Organisation.

017 and that proved consequential during the coronavirus pandemic when Taiwan had advanced information and was unable to share that that globally so, um, I think it makes sense that the US is supporting, um, um, greater participation for Taiwan, um, um, in international institutions but I think it’s also done as a way of kind of needling and so, um, um, what explanation have we heard from the US and what reaction has there been from Taiwan and also China governments? twill, China, uh, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

US website change on Taiwan independence done to ‘antagonise Beijing’

has yet to release a statement. I suspect that they will be in the coming days. Taiwan has been positive. You know, the current Taiwanese government has the line that they will be in the coming days. Taiwan has been positive. You know, the current Taiwanese government has the line that this is just reflecting reality. Uh, the United States is probably playing some games here, Iowan. Uh, the United States is probably playing some games here, um, but I think it’s a case, as I said, I think it’s a case of both playing a bit of a game but also reflecting real. Now Now in this case, 24 Chinese military aircraft were reported near the island with the Chinese. The military is.

Italy is telling a Canadian warship to change course and of course last week, two US naval ships transited through; they were the first under Trump. P.S. So what do we make of this activity?? We’ll, the Taiwan Strait international wastewaters. Canadian vesvessel, hems Ottawa, is part of an unsanctioned anti-smuggling operationmed at North Korea so it’s in the region for that but it also conducts freedom of navigation operations down to the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait direct route.

China accuses U.S. of ‘serious regression’ in its Taiwan

route. Korea down to the South China Sea, um, other countries like the United States said Australia as well has conducted, um, navigation operations in the region, um, were countries to be intimidated by, um, China’s claim that we’re not allowed to sail through the Taiwan Strait, would effectively make it H. Channah. Waters are so so these are important missions in just making sure that an international route, which is used not just by military vessels but also by shipping, like shipping.

vessels as well. Ummu, it’s important that they DeMaio pen. Uh, I think China’s response with, enough, with the military aircraft is maybe a bit of seeing whether the US will come to the support of Canada in this because, I think China’s response with, uh, with the mil probably sees come to the support of Canada in this because I think China probably sees a bit of a wedge between the Sand Canada at the momenta wedge between ump has decided atrium relations between the US and that Trump has decided to ruin relations bet Canada, so there’s probably, you know, there’s another little game there that China’s playinghe US and Canada, so regards to that relationship. Do you believe, you know, there’s another little game there that China’s playing in regards to that relationship? Do you think there’s .

king for that wording change anyway and you know, we had last year, the Biden Administration was supporting Taiwan’s participation in international organizations  as well, especially the World Health Organisation and Interpol as well.

China condemns US after line on ‘Taiwan independence

And like many countries, Taiwan has been trying to get a read on what the Trump presidency means for them. This has been a confusing time, hasn’t it? Yeah, I mean, I think it’s been absolute chaos coming out of the White House so there’s been a lot of inconsistency and a lot of mixed messages but I think the one consistent theme that comes out of the White House is Trump’s fascination and fondness for strong men and this probably makes people in Taiwan very nervous because it may be leading.

Especially with developments in Ukraine recently, um, we may be leading to a world that goes back to an idea of spheres of influence where large, powerful states have desires and they are allowed to act on these desires and smaller states simply need to submit themselves to these desires and that’s a horrible situation for Taiwan and it’s a horrible situation for Australia as well.