China urges US to respect one-China principle, rejects attempts to distort UN Resolution 2758: FM

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Monday underscored that the Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests and the first red line that cannot be crossed in the China-US relations, when asked to confirm whether China is requesting the US to oppose Taiwan independence and provide more details on the matter as the Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese negotiators are pushing the US to change the US’ stance on the Taiwan question and Chinese negotiators are asking the US to officially declare that it “opposes” Taiwan independence while previously, the statement from the US has been that it “does not support” independence.

Guo stressed that the one-China principle is a basic norm in international relations and a prevailing international consensus. It is also the political foundation of China-US relations. Upholding the one-China principle absolutely entails opposing “Taiwan independence.”

At the same briefing, Guo was also asked to comment on a statement by several US lawmakers ahead of UN General Assembly (UNGA), accusing the Chinese mainland of “misrepresentation of UNGA Resolution 2758,” claiming that the mainland has sought to “falsely conflate UNGA Resolution 2758 with its ‘One China Principle'” and “diplomatically isolate Taiwan,” and calling on the international community to “support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in” the UN and its agencies.

In response, Guo said the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation explicitly stipulate that all the territories Japan had seized from China, such as Taiwan and Penghu Islands, shall be returned to China. This constitutes an important part of the post-WWII international order.

Taiwan is part of China. It was based on this fact and prerequisite that in 1971, the 26th session of UNGA adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority, restoring all lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China in the UN. The resolution reaffirmed that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and there is no such thing as “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan,” Guo said.

To this day, UNGA Resolution 2758 remains a valid and relevant document. It established not only the iron rule that must not be bent, but also an absolute principle that is part and parcel of the existing international order. Anything said or done to challenge the resolution amounts to an attempt to shake the foundation of the post-war international order and interfere in China’s internal affairs. Such attempts will not succeed, Guo noted.

From a historic perspective, during UNGA’s deliberation on the draft of Resolution 2758, a couple of countries put together a “dual representation” proposal to create “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.” The proposal never passed and was ditched. What did not happen back then will certainly not happen today, Guo added.

From a legal perspective, the UNGA Resolution resolved once and for all the question of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the UN. The resolution has extensive legal authority. From 1971 to 1972, agencies of the UN system successively expelled “representatives” of the Taiwan authorities and restored the lawful seats of the People’s Republic of China in accordance with the resolution. The UN Secretariat also issued clear legal opinions emphasizing that “Taiwan has no independent status as a province of China,” Guo noted.

In practice, since the adoption of UNGA Resolution 2758, the UN system and other international and regional organizations have adhered to the one-China principle and made it clear that any matter related to the Taiwan region’s participation in the activities of international organizations shall be handled under the one-China principle. The UN official documents refer to Taiwan only as “Taiwan, province of China.” In total, 183 countries have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle, Guo said.

“Let me stress once again that the future of the Taiwan region lies in the reunification of China. With a strong and prosperous motherland, our Taiwan compatriots will enjoy broader space for development and they will feel more secure and dignified. Nothing whatsoever will ever stop China’s reunification,” Guo said.

Global Times