In the last week the so called 'Rock Solid' support the Biden Admin promised for Taiwan seems to be crumbling somewhat.

Kurt Campbell, White House Policy Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific: We support a strong unofficial relationship with Taiwan. We do not support Taiwan independence. We fully recognize and understand the sensitivities involved here.

Global Times: The statement by Campbell seems to bring the US policy regarding the Taiwan Straits to the right track.

If the Global Times is praising you, that's a worry.

Then the White House removed a tweet that had included the Taiwan flag. This was interpreted as another kowtow.

Jen Psaki: This was an honest mistake (and) we remain committed to the one-China policy.

It's not clear if deleting the tweet was an honest mistake or using the Taiwan flag - sounds like the latter.

Now we've got Kissinger (always pro-China) weighing in with calls to re-enact the Nixon summit - which at it's core involved a recognition of China's claim over Taiwan.

All these things add up to the emergence of a disturbing pattern. Yes war with China is a grave matter - not something to rush into - but so is appeasement and selling out HK and Taiwan. Surely the White House with their masters of slippery language could have found other ways to phrase things rather than a direct slap-down to Taiwan independence.