Op-Ed | The international community should see the true nature of the status quo in the Taiwan Strait
A portrait photo of Chinese Ambassador to Canada, H.E. Cong Peiwu.
Photo Credit: China’s embassy in Canada.
Written by: H.E. Cong Peiwu, Chinese Ambassador to Canada
For some time, several countries have claimed that they oppose changing the status quo with force in the Taiwan Strait, with some individuals of Canada dancing to this tune. Such rhetoric does not reflect the facts and reality on the Taiwan question, and is a narrative trap designed with a malign purpose. I would like to make further clarifications and set the record straight.
First, Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times. In 1895, the Qing court was defeated in the Sino-Japanese War and forced to sign the unequal Treaty of Shimonoseki and cede to Japan Taiwan and the Penghu Islands. In 1943, leaders of China, the United Kingdom and the United States issued the Cairo Declaration, stating clearly that all the territories Japan had stolen from the Chinese, such as Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, should be restored to China. In 1945, the Potsdam Proclamation reaffirmed that “the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out.”
On October 1, 1949, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) was founded, becoming the successor to the Republic of China (1912-1949), and the Central People’s Government became the only legitimate government of the whole of China. However, because of the civil war in China in the late 1940s and the interference of external forces, the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have fallen into a state of protracted political confrontation. At its 26th session in 1971, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, which decided to restore the lawful seat of the PRC in the United Nations (UN). This resolution settled once and for all the political, legal and procedural issues of China’s representation in the UN. Canada was one of the few western countries which voted in favor of the resolution. Since the founding of the PRC, based on the one-China principle, China has established diplomatic relations with 182 countries.
There is but one China in the world, and Taiwan is part of China. Although the mainland and Taiwan have yet to be reunified, the fact that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China has never changed, and the sovereignty and territory of China has never been severed and will never be severed. This is the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
Second, there are two root causes of the current tensions across the Taiwan Strait: the Taiwan authorities, led by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), have been attempting to solicit the US’ support to seek independence, and external forces have been seeking to use the Taiwan question to contain China. The DPP authorities proclaim a “two states” theory, distorting the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China, while colluding with external forces to seek independence. They are the saboteur of the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Meanwhile, the U.S. and other western countries have relaxed restrictions on official interactions with Taiwan and helped Taiwan expand the so-called international space and bolstered “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. This is done in an attempt to obscure and hollow out the one-China principle, and obstruct China’s cause of reunification. They are the driving forces to undermine the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. What they have done is to tamper with the World War II history, subvert the post-war order and trample on China’s sovereignty. Not long ago, the General Committee and the Plenary Session of the 76th World Health Assembly (WHA) decided once again to reject the so-called proposal of “inviting Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer” submitted by certain countries. This fully shows that the one-China principle has international support and represents the prevailing trend that cannot be challenged.
“Taiwan independence” and cross-Strait peace and stability are as irreconcilable as fire and water. Not long ago, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has carried out relevant exercises encircling the Taiwan Island. This is a stern warning to the provocative activities of “Taiwan independence” secessionist forces and their collusion with external forces, and a necessary move to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is perfectly justified and beyond reproach.
Third, the biggest threat to peace in the Taiwan Strait comes from the “Taiwan independence” separatist activities and external connivance at and support for them. To keep the Taiwan Strait peaceful and stable, it is essential to unequivocally uphold the one-China principle and oppose “Taiwan independence” and foreign interference. Those who talk about peace in the Taiwan Strait but refuse to oppose “Taiwan independence” are in effect conniving at and supporting separatist activities, which is bound to have a severe impact on cross-Strait peace and stability.
A few days ago, the US and Canada sent warships and military aircraft halfway around the world to China’s doorsteps and engaging in close-in reconnaissance and showoff of military muscle near China’s territorial sea and airspace. This is the root cause of security risks on the sea and in the air. China respects the rights of navigation and overflight that all countries are entitled to under international law, but firmly opposes acts that undermine China’s sovereignty and security in the name of freedom of navigation and overflight, and is determined to defend its sovereignty and security and regional peace and stability. We will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and efforts, but we will reserve the option of taking all necessary measures. This is directed solely at interference by outside forces, the few separatists seeking “Taiwan independence” and their separatist activities.
The Taiwan question is China’s internal affair and the core of the core interests of China, which brooks no external interference. Canada, with its own unique experience in national unity, should view the Taiwan question in an even more objective way. China will not flinch under any external interference, nor will it tolerate any infringement upon its sovereignty, security and development interests. China’s complete reunification is a process that cannot be halted. The Taiwan authorities, which solicit foreign support to seek “Taiwan independence” will lead to a dead end. And any external force’s attempts to use the Taiwan question to contain China is doomed to fail.
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H.E. Cong Peiwu is China’s ambassador to Canada.
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