The State Department has unveiled new rules for US government contacts with Taiwan that are likely anger China but appear to reimpose some restrictions that had been lifted by the Trump administration.
The department announced the changed policy in a statement that said the Biden administration intends to “liberalize” the rules to reflect the “deepening unofficial relationship” between the US and Taiwan. However, the revised guidelines don’t include all the changes put in place by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the waning days of the Trump administration.
Pompeo had lifted virtually all restrictions on contacts with Taiwan, including allowing Taiwanese military officers to wear uniforms and display the Taiwanese flag at meetings with US officials. Friday’s changes were silent on those matters, although the rules do continue to permit US officials to meet their Taiwanese counterparts in federal buildings.
China regards Taiwan as a renegade province and opposes any attempt to treat the island as an independent country. China had condemned Pompeo’s easing of the restrictions that had been in place since the US recognised Beijing and dropped formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979.
“These new guidelines will continue the U.S. Government’s longstanding practice of providing clarity throughout the US executive branch of how to implement our one China’ policy,” the department said.