Pelosi visit signals change in U.S.' 'one China' policy: Expert

Taipei, Aug. 10 (CNA) The recent visit of House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei is evidence the United States has made Taiwan's wishes a central component of a redefined "one China" policy, according to a U.S.-based political scientist.

In an article published in the Chinese-language edition of The US-China Perception Monitor Wednesday, Liu Yawei (劉亞偉) said whether Taiwan "wants to be" a part of China was now a central part of Washington's stance regarding the island's future status.

While Washington must make its new position known and find a way to live peacefully with Beijing, Liu said the U.S. must also ensure unification is peaceful should Taiwan decide to become a part of China

Washington's shifting attitudes toward Taiwan began with then-U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's acceptance of a congratulatory phone call from Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) in 2016, according to Liu.

Since then, Washington has begun to reinterpret its commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances, while also setting out to boost Taiwan's participation and presence internationally, he said.

Washington now seeks to go beyond just deterring Beijing from threatening Taiwan by preventing the island from becoming Chinese territory, Liu added.

According to Liu, the White House now believes unification between China and Taiwan will erode the U.S.' influence in Asia and also damage Washington's credibility on the world stage.

Pelosi's visit to Taiwan caused backsliding U.S.-China relations to sink to a new low, and the slogan "there is only 'one China'" -- which used to be the bedrock of U.S.-China relations -- is now all but shattered, Liu said.

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