Because we’re trying to have it both ways. Answer from Deleted User on reddit.com
World Population Review
worldpopulationreview.com › country-rankings › countries-that-recognize-taiwan
Countries that Recognize Taiwan 2026
2 weeks ago - In light of this fact, and the increasing evidence that the RoC was in no position to regain control of the mainland, most countries in the U.N. eventually switched their diplomatic recognition from the RoC in Taiwan to the PRC on mainland China. This included countries such as the United States, which originally sided with the RoC and Taiwan.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/askpolitics › why does the us not recognize taiwan?
r/Askpolitics on Reddit: Why does the US not recognize Taiwan?
October 14, 2024 -
Or am I a fool?
Top answer 1 of 19
10
Because we’re trying to have it both ways.
2 of 19
5
The two China policy isn’t a card in the table. It’s the whole table. Recognizing Taiwan as an independent country is and will be a declaration of war for the foreseeable future. It would mean a rapid escalation in hostility if not full out war. The South China Sea would be aflame within hours, probably an Indo-Pakistani incursion, Vietnam, Japan, and inevitably the US, Australia, New Zealand, And eventually the UK would be drawn into war. When dealing with a nation that is in position of nuclear weapons, sometimes the bad moral choice is the only right moral choice.
Because we’re trying to have it both ways. Answer from Deleted User on reddit.com
Videos
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Why the U.S. Won’t Support Taiwan’s Independence - YouTube
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Taiwan–United_States_relations
Taiwan–United States relations - Wikipedia
4 days ago - In October 1945, a month after ... troops. However, during the period of the 1940s, there was no recognition by the United States Government that Taiwan had ever been incorporated into Chinese national territory....
Usali
usali.org › publications › talking-points-what-does-us-law-say-about-taiwan
Talking Points: What Does US Law Say About Taiwan? — U.S.-Asia Law Institute
June 28, 2025 - That is, the US did not recognize that Taiwan was part of the sovereign territory of the state of China, as it does for Tibet, for example. President Carter reaffirmed unilaterally the US expectation that differences over Taiwan would be resolved peacefully. Some observers might point out that section 4(a) of the TRA states: “Whenever the laws of the United States refer or relate to foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar entities, such terms shall include and such laws shall apply with respect to Taiwan.” Doesn’t that mean, these observers might ask, that Taiwan is a country, nation, state and so on?
United States Department of State
2021-2025.state.gov › home › countries & areas › taiwan
Taiwan - United States Department of State
August 24, 2023 - has maintained and enhanced its commercial ties with Taiwan since 1979. Taiwan is the United States’ ninth largest trading partner, and the U.S. is Taiwan’s second largest trading partner.
Congress
crsreports.congress.gov › product › pdf › IF › IF12646
Taiwan's Position in the World | Congress.gov
Although the United States does not itself recognize Taiwan diplomatically, the TAIPEI Act as amended states that it is U.S. policy "to support Taiwan's diplomatic relations with governments and countries."
Congress.gov
congress.gov › crs-product › IF12646
Taiwan and the International Community | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
Although the United States does not itself recognize Taiwan diplomatically, the TAIPEI Act as amended states that it is U.S. policy "to support Taiwan's diplomatic relations with governments and countries."
Association for Diplomatic Studies & Training
adst.org › 2013 › 12 › the-u-s-recognizes-communist-china-not-taiwan-january-1-1979
The U.S. De-recognizes Taiwan in Favor of Communist China — January 1, 1979 – Association for Diplomatic Studies & Training
Now you don’t just go to the President of the country’s house and ring the bell and talk to him, so it took a while to go through the several people that they had to and then they got Chiang Ching-kuo at, I think, slightly after two o’clock in the morning. Unger told him that we were de-recognizing Taiwan.
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Foreign_relations_of_Taiwan
Foreign relations of Taiwan - Wikipedia
3 days ago - That the provisional capital of ... as a country, at least not as yet, and not until and unless appropriate treaties are hereafter entered into. Formosa may be said to be a territory or an area occupied and administered by the Government of the Republic of China, but is not officially recognized as being a part of the Republic of China. In the past decades, the US had maintained a position to not support Taiwanese independence, ...
Chicago Council on Global Affairs
globalaffairs.org › commentary › blogs › us-doesnt-recognize-taiwan-sovereign-nation-so-why-it-arming-island
Why is the U.S. arming Taiwan?
The U.S. has maintained a delicate balance between not officially recognizing Taiwan as a sovereign nation and arming the island to fend off any Chinese aggression.
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › International_recognition_of_Taiwan
International recognition of Taiwan - Wikipedia
1 week ago - At the end of 2011, Jeffery Bader, Assistant United States Trade Representative for China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, led and finalized the final stages of Taiwan's accession to the WTO, which were approved by trade ministers in November in Doha, Qatar. The ISO 3166 directory of names of countries and territories registers Taiwan (TW) separately from and in addition to the People's Republic of China (CN), but lists Taiwan as "Taiwan, Province of China" based on the name used by the UN under PRC pressure.
Congress.gov
congress.gov › crs-product › IF12503
The U.S. “One-China” Policy and Taiwan | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
Since establishing diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1979, the U.S. government has recognized the PRC as "the sole legal Government of China" and maintained relations with Taiwan on an unofficial basis.
House of Commons Library
commonslibrary.parliament.uk › house of commons library › research briefings › research briefing › taiwan: relations with the united states
Taiwan: Relations with the United States - House of Commons Library
3 days ago - Download full report Download ... China. There are 12 countries that recognise Taiwan as a state, which does not include the United States....
USAFacts
usafacts.org › home › defense and security › what countries does the us recognize?
The State Department is in charge of diplomatic recognition. | USAFacts
November 19, 2025 - Along with the 196 nations, the US government recognizes 64 dependencies and other sovereign areas. ... Recognition is a matter of international diplomacy. Being internationally recognized as a sovereign state opens avenues for trade, global ...
Quora
quora.com › What-is-the-United-States-official-stance-on-Taiwans-sovereignty-Does-the-US-recognize-Taiwan-as-an-independent-country-or-does-it-have-a-neutral-stance-on-the-issue-in-relation-to-China
What is the United States' official stance on Taiwan's sovereignty? Does the US recognize Taiwan as an independent country or does it have a neutral stance on the issue in relation to China? - Quora
The US does not officially recognize Taiwan as an independent country, but it is not neutral on the issue of China potentially using military force to take control of Taiwan. On 1 Janu...
Top answer 1 of 2
6
The Republic of China doesn't claim to be a country as Taiwan; it makes no claim to be independent. The RoC claims to be the legitimate government of the whole of China. Since the 1970s, the USA has recognised the reality that the government in Taipei has no authority over the mainland and the PRC government in Beijing is the only body with real and effective power on the mainland of China.
So the USA doesn't recognise the RoC as the government of China because it isn't. And it doesn't recognise it as the government of Taiwan because the RoC is very clear that it doesn't want to be recognised as "Taiwan".
2 of 2
5
Straight from the horse's mouth.
China and the US, under Carter, normalized relations on Dec 15, 1978.
By the terms of the agreement the two sides reached, the United States acknowledged “the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China.” The United States declared its intention to abrogate the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Republic of China, originally signed in December 1954. Simultaneously, however, the United States declared in the Joint Communiqué that it would “maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan.”
Part of the deal was the US not pretending Taiwan was boss of China anymore. And since there could only be one China, it was PRC. On the other hand, the US treats Taiwan as nearly a normal nation in almost every other respect, including guarantees on its security.
This farce about Taiwan is precisely the farce that most of the rest of world goes through as well, in order to placate China's sensibilities, nothing US specific about it.
In fact, as JamesK has noted, even Taiwan goes along with it, mostly because China has repeatedly stated Taiwan declaring itself a country would be a casus belli (cause for war).
Congress
crsreports.congress.gov › product › pdf › IF › IF10275 pdf
Taiwan: Background and U.S. Relations | Congress.gov
Examples: "Trade Relations", "Export Controls" · Examples: hr5, h.r.5, sjres8, sa2, pl116-21, 86Stat1326
Center for Strategic and International Studies
csis.org › analysis › what-us-one-china-policy-and-why-does-it-matter
What Is the U.S. “One China” Policy, and Why Does it Matter? | CSIS
October 31, 2025 - We regard the word ‘acknowledge’ ... position stands: the United States recognizes the PRC as the sole legal government of China but only acknowledges the Chinese position that Taiwan is part of China....
Hudson Institute
hudson.org › foreign-policy › united-states-taiwan-two-beautiful-countries-one-destiny-mike-pompeo
The United States and Taiwan: Two Beautiful Countries, One Destiny | Hudson Institute
TAIWAN DESERVES AND THE U.S. SHOULD GIVE, WASHINGTON’S DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION AS AN INDEPENDENT AND SOVEREIGN COUNTRY
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Political_status_of_Taiwan
Political status of Taiwan - Wikipedia
1 day ago - The United States recognized the KMT government in Taiwan (ROC) as the legitimate representative of all China until 1979. And the ROC itself claimed to be the sole legitimate representative of all China until 1988. As of the present, most nations have switched their official diplomatic recognition ...