Tensions over Taiwan flared as the U.S. rejected a request from Chinese President Xi Jinping to alter its official language on Taiwan independence. According to anonymous U.S. officials, Xi urged President Joe Biden during their November 2023 meeting in San Francisco to adopt a firmer stance against Taiwan’s independence. Xi’s request sought to shift the U.S. language from "not supporting" to explicitly "opposing" Taiwan independence. Despite repeated follow-ups from Beijing, the Biden administration has maintained the traditional language.

The White House responded by reiterating Washington's "One China" policy and commitment to not supporting Taiwan's independence. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment, affirming its "clear and consistent" stance on Taiwan. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also refrained from commenting on the private diplomatic exchanges.

Taiwan, governed independently since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, remains a complex issue in U.S.-China relations. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has increased its military presence around the island in recent years. The U.S., though severing formal ties with Taipei in 1979, is legally obligated to support Taiwan’s self-defense.

Changing the language would have far-reaching consequences, signaling a possible shift in U.S. policy and potentially impacting diplomatic ties in the Asia-Pacific region. Some regional allies have expressed concern, interpreting any change as diminished U.S. support for Taiwan.

Taiwan’s government, operating under the formal name "Republic of China," maintains its sovereignty despite Beijing’s claims. Opinion polls suggest the majority of Taiwanese people support maintaining the current status rather than pursuing outright independence or reunification with China.