The United States maintains a one-China policy that is based on the TRA, the three U.S.-PRC Joint Communiqués, and the Six Assurances; opposes unilateral actions aimed at altering the status quo; and continues to support the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues in a manner, scope, and pace acceptable to both sides. Consistent with the TRA, the United States contributes to peace, security, and stability in the Taiwan Strait by providing defense articles and services to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability. Since 2009 Taiwan has received about $30 billion in arms sales from the United States. Taiwan currently has arms sales agreements to acquire Stinger missiles, Javelins, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Harpoon missiles, and F-16 fighter jets.
PRC EFFORTS TO CONFLATE FOREIGN ONE CHINA POLICIES WITH ITS “ONE CHINA PRINCIPLE”
The PRC’s “One China principle,” established in 1949, according to PRC government white papers, predicates diplomatic relations with the PRC on “recognizing” the “government of the PRC as the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China” and “that Taiwan is part of China.”
Since the establishment of the PRC in 1949, countries around the world have enacted respective and unique “One China” policies that govern their relations with the PRC and Taiwan. Some countries have endorsed the PRC’s “One China principle” in their national “One China” policies, while other countries have determined to “acknowledge,” “understand,” or “note” the PRC’s position within their respective, national “One China” policies. These unique “One China” policies, and their attendant joint communiques with the PRC, provide countries around the world with the legal basis upon which each country engages with the PRC and Taiwan.
The U.S. one China policy is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances. Under the three Joint Communiques, the U.S. acknowledged the PRC’s position and reaffirmed U.S. interest in a peaceful settlement of the “Taiwan question.” U.S. implementation interpretation of the 1982 Communique related to arms sales to Taiwan is guided by President Ronald Reagan’s August 17th, 1982 internal presidential memo (known as the Six Assurances), where he stated the U.S. willingness to reduce its arms sales to Taiwan is conditioned “absolutely” upon the continued commitment of the PRC to the peaceful solution of the Taiwan-PRC cross-Strait differences. The Six Assurances, delivered to Taiwan in 1982, outlined key principles for continued U.S. support for Taiwan.
The PRC has sought to conflate the United States, as well as other foreign nations’ respective “One China” policies, with its own “One China principle.” This effort erroneously portrays broad international support for its claim over Taiwan, attempts to legitimize PRC coercion against Taiwan, and make assertions of “broken legal commitments” by countries who engage with Taiwan in ways that Beijing perceives as threatening to its unification objectives.
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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
Annual Report to Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China
