Rep. Donalds Introduces Bill to Refer to Taiwan as “Taiwan,” Not “Chinese Taipei”
On March 14, U.S. Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) introduced the “America Supports Taiwan Act” (H.R.2113), which would require all U.S. federal agencies to use the term “Taiwan” instead of “Chinese Taipei” to counter Chinese coercion and aggression that threaten Taiwan’s sovereignty.
The legislation “reconfirms the U.S. Government’s support of an independent Taiwan, even though Chinese coercion and persuasion continues to escalate,” according to a press release.
The release also noted that the bill had received support from Representatives Mike Collins (R-GA), Barry Moore (R-AL), and Tom Tiffany (R-WI).
While the United States rarely uses the term “Chinese Taipei,” it has appeared in some government communications, The Hill reported.
If enacted, the bill would require all federal agencies to update their websites within 14 days to reflect the use of “Taiwan” instead of “Chinese Taipei.”
“The name ‘Chinese Taipei’ is nothing more than a tool of Beijing’s strategy of diplomatic coercion,” Congressman Byron Donalds stated in the press release. “Taiwan is a key U.S. strategic partner despite Chinese claims over their sovereignty,” he added.
Congressman Mike Collins expressed pride in co-sponsoring the bill “to back Taiwan’s fight for independence and recognize their official title as ‘Taiwan,’ not ‘Chinese Taipei.’” As the greatest and most powerful nation on the globe, he said, the United States should not allow Communist China “to dictate the name of one of our greatest international allies.”
“It is time for the United States to show the people of Taiwan that we recognize their right to self-governance,” Congressman Barry Moore said, emphasizing that “the United States stands firm against Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific.”
References:
[1] Rep. Byron Donalds’ Office
[2] Taipei Times
Rubio Reaffirms Trump’s Opposition to Any Forced Changes to Taiwan’s Status
On March 19, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that President Donald Trump would uphold the longstanding U.S. policy that “the status of Taiwan should not be changed by force or by extortion, or compelled in any way.”
“That’s the policy of the United States. That remains the policy of the United States,” Rubio said in an interview with conservative TV host Hugh Hewitt.
He added, “That’s been the policy of President Trump, and that will continue to be his policy. And when he makes policy decisions, he means them.”
Rubio’s comments came a day after a U.S. Department of State spokesperson condemned China’s latest military drills near Taiwan as “brazen and irresponsible threats.”
On March 17, from 6 a.m. to about 9 p.m., the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sent more than two dozen military aircraft across the median line of the Taiwan Strait, while dozens more entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in collaboration with Chinese naval vessels, according to data released by Taiwan’s military.
During the March 19 interview, Rubion was also asked whether the United States could deter Chinese President Xi Jinping from launching an attack on Taiwan.
In response, Rubio emphasized that the U.S. can delay and deter a Chinese attack by making the cost of taking Taiwan outweigh the benefits perceived by Xi.
However, he noted that Xi wants the annexation of Taiwan to be the defining crown jewel of his time in power.
“So, it’s a very delicate situation there,” Rubio said. “Our policy remains the same. We do not believe that there should be any violent and/or extortion-based change to the status.”
References:
[1] Hughhewitt.com
[2] Taipei Times
G7 Foreign Ministers’ Statement Reaffirms Importance of Peace in Taiwan Strait
On March 14, the G7 foreign ministers reaffirmed their support for Taiwan and emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, according to a joint statement issued following the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Charlevoix, Canada.
“We [G7] encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues and reiterated our opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion,” the statement read.
The bloc also expressed “support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in appropriate international organizations.”
According to a Reuters report, unlike previous G7 foreign ministers’ statements, this year’s statement notably omitted any conciliatory references or reassurances, such as the “One China policy,” when mentioning Taiwan.
The so-called “One China policy,” which recognizes the government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and ensures that ties with Taiwan remain unofficial, has been the foundation of Western engagement with China and Taiwan for decades.
In Taipei, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) issued a press release expressing its gratitude to the G7 foreign ministers for their joint statement in support of Taiwan.
The ministry noted that since 2021, G7 members have consistently emphasized their concerns and support of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait through joint communiqués and post-meeting statements for five consecutive years.