The Trump administration accused China of pressuring states and companies to isolate Taiwan

The United States government denounced that the Chinese regime is intensifying its efforts to hinder relations between Taiwan and state authorities, companies, and institutions in the United States, while urging various states in the country and the private sector to strengthen their cooperation with the island in the face of increasing pressures from Beijing.

The warning was reflected in two joint letters issued by the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, and Agriculture. The documents, dated June 16 and subsequently released by the American Institute in Taiwan, Washington's de facto representation on the island, were sent to both the offices of governors and to executives and business leaders across the country.

In the communications, the U.S. government asserts that the Chinese embassy and consulates are conducting a systematic campaign to dissuade any type of interaction with Taiwan. According to Washington, diplomats from the regime of Xi Jinping regularly contact state officials and representatives from the private sector with the aim of persuading them to cancel meetings, trade agreements, or cooperation activities with Taiwanese authorities.

In addition to attempting to reduce those ties, the letters accuse Chinese officials of spreading misleading information about U.S. foreign policy towards Taiwan. In particular, they point out that representatives from Beijing falsely claim that Washington has accepted the Chinese government's position regarding sovereignty over the island, an interpretation that the U.S. administration rejects.

In light of this situation, the Departments of State, Commerce, and Agriculture recommended that governors, public officials, and businesspeople immediately inform the State Department if they receive calls, communications, or any other type of pressure from Chinese government officials.

This measure reflects Washington's growing concern over influence activities attributed to the Chinese Communist Party within the United States. In recent years, various federal agencies have warned about attempts by Beijing to influence local governments, universities, businesses, and civil organizations in order to promote the regime's strategic interests and limit international support for Taiwan.

Although the United States officially maintains the policy known as "One China" and does not formally recognize Taiwan as an independent state, it continues to be the island's main international partner and its largest supplier of defensive weaponry. Washington has maintained for decades that any change in Taiwan's status must occur peacefully and with the consent of its population.

The letters also highlight Taiwan's economic and strategic importance to the United States. The federal government reminds that the island plays an essential role in global supply chains, especially in the production of semiconductors, electronic components, and advanced technologies that are fundamental to numerous U.S. industries.

In the document addressed to governors, the U.S. administration defines Taiwan as "a vital partner of the United States" and as "a story of democratic success," emphasizing that both parties share values such as democracy, the rule of law, and a market economy. It also encourages states to seize the business, technological, and investment opportunities that a closer cooperation with Taipei offers.

The Taiwanese government welcomed the U.S. support. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the letters represent a clear demonstration of Washington's commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation in the face of increasing diplomatic and economic pressures exerted by Beijing.

Taiwanese authorities assert that Xi Jinping's regime has intensified its campaigns in recent years to internationally isolate the island, resorting to pressures on governments, international organizations, and multinational companies to limit their relations with Taipei or adopt the official position of the Chinese Communist Party.

From Beijing, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guo Jiakun, rejected U.S. criticisms and reiterated that China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the United States and Taiwan. He also urged Washington to act prudently and avoid, as he said, sending signals that could favor sectors promoting the island's independence.

However, the publication of the letters highlights the hardening of the U.S. stance towards the actions of the Chinese regime. For Washington, the diplomatic and economic pressures attributed to Xi Jinping's government constitute attempts to interfere in the sovereign decisions of local authorities and U.S. companies, in addition to seeking to impose Beijing's political position on Taiwan internationally.