TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China’s foreign ministry on Monday criticized the Trump administration for removing language opposing Taiwan independence from the US State Department website.

On Feb. 13, the phrase "we do not support Taiwan independence" was removed from the website in what the department described as a routine update, per CNBC. When asked to comment on the change, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun (郭嘉昆) said the US had “seriously regressed” in its Taiwan policy.

Guo claimed the move "seriously violates" Beijing’s one-China principle, the three China-US joint communiques, international law, and basic norms of international relations. He further alleged that it sent "a seriously wrong signal to separatist forces for ‘Taiwan independence,’" accusing Washington of "using Taiwan to contain China."

The spokesperson urged the US to "immediately rectify its mistakes" and adhere to Beijing’s one-China principle and the three joint communiques. He also demanded that Washington stop upgrading relations with Taiwan, supporting its participation in the international arena, and assisting so-called Taiwan independence forces. He warned that failure to do so could "cause further severe damage to China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."

Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) on Sunday welcomed the changes, saying they reflect the "close and friendly partnership" between Taiwan and the US, per CNA. Lin thanked the Trump administration for its continued emphasis on Taiwan and pledged that Taiwan would further strengthen its self-defense capabilities and economic and social resilience.