On February 16, 2025, the U.S. State Department quietly updated its fact sheet on Taiwan-U.S. relations, removing the long-standing phrase: “we do not support Taiwan independence.”

At first glance, this might seem like a minor bureaucratic change. But in the context of China-U.S. strategic rivalry, the revision could carry far-reaching geopolitical consequences. It raises critical questions: Is Washington deliberately testing Beijing’s red lines on Taiwan? Is this a temporary shift to gain leverage in China-U.S. negotiations? Or does this mark the beginning of a more defined U.S. approach to Taiwan’s status?

While the Biden administration made a similar revision in 2022 – only to walk it back after China’s diplomatic protests – the Trump administration’s latest move signals a willingness to take risks in Taiwan policy. Whether this is a calculated shift or a flexible bargaining tool, Beijing, Taipei, and Washington must now recalibrate their strategies.

From Strategic Ambiguity to Strategic Adjustment?

For decades, the U.S. has followed a carefully balanced One-China Policy, shaped by three key documents. The Shanghai Communiqué (1972), issued during President Richard Nixon’s visit to China, acknowledged, but did not endorse, Beijing’s claim over Taiwan. The

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