One-China Principle: Anchor for Peace and Stability across the Taiwan Strait

2022-08-12 13:25

by Mr. Du Xiaohui, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia

On 28th July, when President Xi Jinping spoke with US President Joe Biden on the phone, he made it clear that the position of the Chinese government and people on the Taiwan question is consistent, and resolutely safeguarding China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity is the firm will of the more than 1.4 billion Chinese people. He urged that the US should honor the one-China principle both in word and in deed. President Biden, in response, reiterated that the one-China policy of the US has not changed and will not change, and that the US does not support “Taiwan independence”.

It was only five days after the phone call that Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi set her foot in China’s Taiwan region. This act is a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiqués. It has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It gravely undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and sends a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces for “Taiwan independence”.

There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. This is at the heart of the one-China principle and also a universal consensus of the international community and a basic norm in international relations. This has been clearly recognized by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 1971, thanks to earnest efforts by Zambia and many other friendly countries. The US is among the 181 countries that have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle.

However, the US has never ceased to renege on its commitments on the Taiwan question, openly playing with fire. The Taiwan Strait is facing a new round of tensions and severe challenges, and the fundamental cause is the repeated moves by the Taiwan authorities and the United States to change the status quo. The United States, for its part, has been attempting to use Taiwan to contain China. It constantly distorts, obscures and hollows out the one-China principle, steps up its official exchanges with Taiwan, and emboldens “Taiwan independence” separatist activities.

Seeking peace, stability, development and win-win cooperation are the common aspirations of countries around the world. On 3rd August, UN Secretary-General Guterres said openly, “Our position is very clear. We abide by the General Assembly resolutions, by the one-China policy, and that is the orientation that we have in everything we do.” Political parties and civil organisations of Zambia have also collectively made a voice of justice soon after Pelosi’s visit, supporting and echoing China’s position, and reiterating firm adherence to the one-China principle. They have expressed strong opposition to the US interfering China’s internal affairs, infringing upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. They understand and support China’s necessary responses and legitimate measures in order to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The one-China principle is the most important asset for bilateral relations between China and Zambia, to which Zambia made significant contributions. President Hichilema stressed that Zambia firmly follows the one-China policy when he was on the phone with President Xi. I believe that, based on the one-China principle, China and Zambia together with other peace-loving countries will safeguard peace and stability, and the all-weather friendship and all-dimensional cooperation between our two countries will only shine brighter.

EMBASSY OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA All RIGHTS RESERVED