U.S. Finally Recognizes Taiwan as a Sovereign Country
Breaking down Trump’s last-ditch attempt to cement his legacy on US-China relations.
Why Taiwan Matters
Since 1979, the One China policy has been a foundation to diplomatic relations between the United States and Beijing. For decades, the U.S rejected any formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, appeasing Beijing’s claims to the island nation as its own territory. Washington never referred to Taiwan as a “country” or “government”, and Taiwan military officials even had to shed their uniforms during visits to the State Department as part of strict guidelines that regulate where officials can meet and how correspondence can be conducted.
The status of Taiwan is not just the bedrock of Beijing’s policy agenda, but perhaps the most sensitive issue in US-China relations. The Communist Party has made it clear that “One China” is a prerequisite to relations with Beijing, viewing any recognition of Taiwan’s sovereignty as a direct threat to its domestic nationalism.
Yet just 11 days before the departure of President Trump, the State Department delivered a resounding rejection of the One China Policy, moving unilaterally to disrupt a central — and potentially volatile — element in US-China relations. According to…
