TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Beijing exaggerates “Taiwan independence” claims to rationalize annexing Taiwan, US Representative Adam Smith said at an Atlantic Council event on Friday.

“China sort of plays that up as a justification for their more aggressive behavior,” said Smith, the House Armed Services Committee’s ranking member. He said Beijing worries independence sentiment is growing under the ruling DPP. Beijing maintains it does not intend to seize Taiwan unless Taipei takes “substantial steps” toward independence — a move Beijing says would be a mistake.

Smith said he sees no evidence Taiwan is pushing for independence in a direct challenge to China. Conditions in the Taiwan Strait over the past one to two years remain “about the same,” he said. He reiterated that US policy acknowledges “one China” and does not support unilateral changes to the status quo or Taiwan independence. However, he added, “China is very focused on the fact that we are arming Taiwan,” which the US does to ensure Taiwan can deter and defeat a potential invasion.

Smith also noted a shift in Beijing’s attitude toward dialogue with Washington, saying senior leaders appear more open to conversation, even as views within the Chinese Communist Party differ on how to manage ties. A significant group wants to “calm tensions,” he said.

In September, Smith led a bipartisan delegation to China for talks on trade, fentanyl, and security issues with top officials. “As two global powers, the US and China have had and will continue to have disagreements, but we both need to take steps to bring down the temperature and rhetoric,” he said of the trip.