WASHINGTON - At a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers that the United States is not altering its policy toward Taiwan and that preserving the present status quo is Washington’s objective.
Rubio stated plainly: "The most important thing to understand is we want to see the status quo preserved as-is at this moment. That’s our policy, that’s what we’ve said, that’s what we continue to say." He added that managing the relationship is fraught with sensitivities, saying: "It’s a very ... delicate relationship to balance, but our policy on Taiwan is not changing."
The remarks were delivered in the context of renewed attention to U.S.-China relations after last month’s summit in Beijing between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to the testimony, that meeting prompted concern in Taipei about whether the United States would uphold its commitment to help the democratically governed island defend itself.
During the hearing, Rubio emphasized continuity in official U.S. posture. He framed the administration’s stance as one committed to maintaining the existing arrangements and cautioned that the relationship with China requires careful balancing to avoid altering long-standing positions.
Lawmakers raised questions about the implications of recent high-level diplomacy between Washington and Beijing, and Rubio’s answers sought to reassure members of the committee that U.S. policy toward Taiwan remains steady. Beyond his repeated assurance that the policy is unchanged, he highlighted the fragility of the diplomatic balance underpinning interactions among the United States, China, and Taiwan.
Observers in Taipei have registered concern following the leaders’ summit in Beijing, the hearing record shows, reflecting unease about U.S. commitments to Taiwan’s defense. Rubio’s testimony was intended to address those worries by reaffirming that the status quo is the policy objective at this time.
Key takeaways
- Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the U.S. wants to preserve the status quo regarding Taiwan and that policy is not changing.
- He described the relationship as "a very ... delicate relationship to balance," underscoring diplomatic sensitivities.
- Last month’s summit between President Trump and President Xi in Beijing led to concern in Taipei about U.S. commitment to Taiwan’s defense.