In the daily press briefing February 9, in response to the question for comment on Taiwan President Chen's push to rename state-owned enterprises in Taiwan's overseas representative of offices from Republic of China to Taiwan, Sean McCormack, State Department Spokesman had the following to say:
The primary interest of the United States remains the maintenance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The United States does not support Taiwan independence and opposes unilateral steps by either side that would change the status quo. As we have said many times before, we do not support administrative steps by Taiwan authorities that would appear to change Taiwan's status unilaterally or move towards independence. The United States does not, for instance, support changes in terminology for entities administered by Taiwan authorities. President Chen's fulfillment of his commitments will be a test of leadership, dependability and statesmanship, as well the ability to protect Taiwan's interests, its relations with others and to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
However, Taipei said the US warning will not deter it from pursuing the name-change campaign. "This is our internal affair. Foreign countries have no right to interfere. We should carry it on," Yu Shyi-kun, secretary general of President Chen's independence-learning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), told reporters on February 10.