China Says US Has ‘Gravely Backpedaled’ On Taiwan

BEIJING (AP) — China’s Foreign Ministry has taken issue with a revised U.S. government fact sheet that removed a line on American opposition to independence for Taiwan. A ministry spokesperson said the U.S. has “gravely backpedaled” on its position on Taiwan and sent the wrong message to “separatist forces” on the island. Taiwan and China split in 1949 during the civil war that brought the communists to power in China. Taiwan has its own government and military but has never declared formal independence from China. The U.S. State Department removed the phrase “we do not support Taiwan independence” from the fact sheet last week.