Following the inauguration of the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) updated its fact sheet on "U.S.-Taiwan Relations," drawing attention to the removal of the phrase "we do not support Taiwan independence."1 In addition, revisions were made to clarify the positions articulated in the U.S. "One China Policy."2 A particularly notable revision was the addition of the phrase "free from coercion" to the long-standing statement: "We expect cross-Strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means."3 "Coercion" generally refers to the use of pressure or threats to compel or deter another party from taking a specific action. This amendment can be interpreted as a clearer articulation of the U.S. position that "peaceful means" exclude not only "resort to force" but also "coercion."

This paper aims to analyze how the U.S. "One China Policy" conceptualizes "peaceful means," "resort to force," and "coercion," and to clarify the corresponding policy principles that have shaped the U.S. stance on security in the Taiwan Strait.