Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2016-12-17

Washington’s “One China” policy has been in place for decades since the United States switched its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979 under then President Jimmy Carter. Under the policy, the US maintains formal diplomatic ties with China rather than Taiwan, a self-ruled island that China considers an inseparable part of its territory.

According to Beijing, there is only one China in the world. Beijing says that Taiwan, which it calls a renegade province, must eventually reunify with the motherland. China has also made it clear that it does not rule out the possibility of taking back Taiwan by force should the island declare independence.

The “One China” policy has long been espoused by both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. Under the policy, Washington has maintained unofficial ties with Taiwan. As a result, Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Washington DC is called the “Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US”.    [FULL  STORY]