A US State Department official says Taiwan’s New Year’s Day flag-raising ceremony held at Twin Oaks Estate does not indicate any change in relations between Washington and Taipei.
Twin Oaks Estate in Washington DC is the former residence of the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan’s ambassadors to the US. After the US broke off diplomatic relations with Taipei, the flag had not been flown at the estate for 36 years. Taiwan’s representative to the US, Shen Lyushun, said it was meaningful to be able to hold a flag-raising ceremony again at Twin Oaks as it symbolizes significant progress in Taiwan-US relations.
Following the flag-raising ceremony, Beijing protested to the US and urged the US to respect the “One China” policy. China sees Taiwan as part of its territory, even though the two sides have been ruled separately for more than 60 years.
In a daily news briefing on Monday, US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Washington had not been notified in advance of the ceremony. She also said the ceremony was “not consistent with US policy”.
Psaki said the US remains fully committed to the one China policy based on the Three Communiqués and the Taiwan Relations Act. But she also said relations between Taiwan and the US have not changed.
In response to the US State Department’s remarks, Taiwan’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Anna Kao said on Tuesday that Taipei has maintained smooth communications with Washington. She also said Taiwan understands the US comments about policy consistency.