US only dirties its hands with its smears

Despite acknowledging the fact that Nauru seeking the full resumption of diplomatic relations with China is an independent decision made by a sovereign country, the US State Department has seized it as an opportunity to smear Beijing.

Shortly after Nauru announced on Jan 15 that it had severed "'diplomatic relations' with Taiwan as of this day" and it would "no longer develop any official relations or official exchanges" with the island, the US State Department issued a statement saying the decision was a "disappointing one".

It then took the opportunity to allege that China "makes promises in exchange for diplomatic relations that ultimately remain unfulfilled". Washington also said that the US will continue to deepen and expand its engagement with Taiwan and support its "meaningful participation in the international community". It knows full well that this will be taken as a message of support to Lai Ching-te, the island's newly elected leader, who has previously made clear his pro-independence stance. But the US State Department disingenuously claimed that this engagement would be consistent with the US' one-China policy.