Facts about Taiwan issue and China's position

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Recently, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi made a visit to China’s Taiwan region, which seriously violated the one-China principle and seriously undermined China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. China firmly opposed this, strongly condemned it, and made a firm response to it. In the face of this provocative visit, the Nepali government, political parties and all sectors of society have spoken out, firmly supporting the one-China principle, China's act of safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity, and China's legitimate position. China wishes to express appreciation for this and here I would like to further introduce the facts and China's position on the Taiwan issue to the Nepali friends.

China's reasonable countermeasures

In total disregard of the firm opposition and repeated representations of the Chinese side, Pelosi went ahead with her visit to China's Taiwan region by the US military plane. It seriously undermined China's sovereignty, interfered in China's internal affairs, violated the commitments made by the US side, and jeopardized peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Faced with the provocation, China has no choice but to fight back and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Our position is justified, reasonable and legal; our measures are firm, strong and measured; and our military exercises are open, transparent and professional. They are consistent with domestic and international laws, as well as international practices. They are aimed at sending a warning to the perpetrators and punishing "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

The facts and events that have led to cross-Strait tension are crystal clear, and fair-minded people can tell right from wrong. It is the US side that made provocations, created the crisis, and keeps escalating the tense situation. The US is using democracy as a pretext to infringe on China's sovereignty. "Taiwan independence" separatist forces like Tsai Ing-wen cling to the US for support and betray the Chinese nation. China has made utmost diplomatic efforts to avoid this crisis that is imposed on us.

UNGA Resolution 2758 adopted in 1971 made it clear that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.

Changing status quo across the Taiwan Strait

Taiwan has been an inalienable part of China's territory since ancient times. The historical and legal facts are very clear. UNGA Resolution 2758 adopted in 1971 made it clear that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. As many as 181 countries, including the US, have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle. In 1979, the United States also made a clear commitment in the China-US Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations that the US recognized that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal Government of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. This has been the status quo of the Taiwan Strait for decades.

Currently, the Taiwan Strait is facing a new round of tension and severe challenges. The fundamental reason is that the Taiwan authorities and the United States are constantly changing the status quo. The Taiwan authorities have repeatedly sought American support for independence and refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus, pushed forward "de-sinicization", continuously sought "incremental independence", and attempt to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" whenever it had the chance.

The US side has put its own so-called "Taiwan Relations Act" before the three China-US joint communiques, taken out the once-secretive so-called Six Assurances to Taiwan and made that part of its one-China policy, stepped up official exchanges and enhanced the substantive relationship with Taiwan. All these have broken the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, if it has broken.

Some argue there was precedent for the US House Speaker visiting Taiwan and that it does not mean the US has changed its one-China policy. This is a pure fallacy. The US House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s visit to Taiwan was a serious mistake, and the Chinese Government expressed its strong opposition at the time. Similarly, there is no point in comparing the Taiwan issue with the Ukraine issue, because Taiwan is not a sovereign state, but an inalienable part of China’s territory.

One-China principle: the only way out

The visit challenged China’s red line and violated international law of non-interference in internal affairs as stipulated in the UN Charter. In the meantime, we noted that more than 170 countries have stepped forward to reiterate their firm commitment to the one-China policy, and express understanding and support for the justified position of the Chinese side.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres clearly stated that the UN will continue to adhere to General Assembly Resolution 2758. At the core of the resolution is the one-China principle, i.e., there is but one China in the world, the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is part of China. This is the unified voice of justice of the international community.

The key to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the one-China principle, and the key to peaceful coexistence between China and the United States is the three China-US joint communiqué.

The right way for China and the United States to get along can only be mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, avoidance of confrontation, and win-win cooperation, especially in dealing with the Taiwan issue, which is the most important, central and sensitive issue in China-US relations. The key to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the one-China principle, and the key to peaceful coexistence between China and the United States is the three China-US joint communiqué and putting into practice the "five noes" commitments made by US leaders.

Peaceful Reunification

The Chinese Government has published a white paper titled "The Taiwan Question and China's Reunification in the New Era". The white paper published on August 10 this year has made in-depth explanations of the facts and truth of Taiwan question, pointed out it is an indisputable fact supported by history and the law that Taiwan is part of China.

Peaceful reunification and "one country, two systems" are our basic principles for resolving the Taiwan question. Peaceful cross-Straits reunification is of benefit not only to the Chinese nation, but to all peoples and the international community as a whole. We will work with the greatest sincerity and exert our utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification. But we will not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures. Use of force would be the last resort taken under compelling circumstances.

China and Nepal are friendly neighbors for generations and strategic partners. China always respects and supports Nepal's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. The two countries have always understood and supported each other on issues involving each other's core interests, and became a model of equal treatment and friendly co-existence between large and small countries. Under the current situation, Nepal has made a clear statement that it firmly upholds the One-China policy and supports China to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We highly appreciate that Nepal upholds fairness and justice, and stands on the right side of history. The friendship between China and Nepal has stood the test of time, and the two peoples are of the same mind. I believe the Nepali government and people will continue to abide by the one-China principle, adhere to the correct position of safeguarding each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, opposing external interference in internal affairs, and support China in realizing the peaceful cross-Straits reunification under the principle of "one country, two systems", with a view to jointly maintaining regional peace and stability and promoting regional development and prosperity.

(The author is the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Nepal. This is an edited version of the article received through email: Coordinator)

Author

Hou Yanqi
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