China has opened a new front in its relentless campaign against Taiwan: a war of words aimed at the United States. Beijing is pressing the Trump administration to adopt the verb “oppose” in its official statements on Taiwanese independence, a calculated move to replace the more passive “do not support” and thereby recruit Washington into its diplomatic offensive.
This lexical battle highlights the critical role of language in international relations. The current U.S. position is a cornerstone of “strategic ambiguity,” a policy that has kept the peace for decades. By seeking to change this one word, China aims to dismantle this policy and achieve a major strategic objective without firing a single shot.
The demand is being considered against the backdrop of fraught U.S.-China trade negotiations and an upcoming presidential summit. This context has raised alarms that the Trump administration, with its transactional approach to foreign policy, might be tempted to make a deal, sacrificing Taiwan’s interests for a perceived economic victory.
The history of this issue is fraught with tension. Previous administrations have faced pressure from Beijing over the exact phrasing used in official documents and on government websites. However, the current demand is seen as particularly aggressive, reflecting China’s growing assertiveness on the world stage under President Xi Jinping.
Experts warn that acceding to this demand would be a grave error. “Washington should have a high bar for a change like this,” says former National Security Council official Sarah Beran. She argues that any such concession should be met with a tangible reduction in China’s military threats against Taiwan, ensuring that words are backed by actions that promote peace.
