Seven truths on why Taiwan always will be China’s

Jan 16, 2025
The Chinese flag and the Taiwanese flag are both made from fabric patterns. Conceptual image depicting China's force against Taiwan. Basemap and background concept. Double exposure hologram.

Some Australian media recently provided a platform for false Taiwanese views about the one-China policy. Here are the reasons they are wrong.

In recent years, the authorities of Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have been trying hard to promote so-called “incremental independence”, while certain external forces have taken the opportunity to interfere, propagating the “Taiwan’s status being undetermined” narrative.

Recently, some Australian media provided a platform for such false voices. All these acts threaten China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, undermine international rules and order, and disrupt regional peace and stability. Hereby, I would like to share the facts and truth about the Taiwan question with the Australian public.

First, Taiwan has been an inalienable part of China since ancient times. Taiwan’s indigenous people are descendants of the ancient Bai-Yue lineage who migrated from the Chinese mainland 30,000 years ago. References to Taiwan date back to China’s Three Kingdoms period in 1335, making them the earliest records in the world, the imperial central governments of China all set up administrative bodies to exercise jurisdiction over Penghu and Taiwan.

In 1662, China’s national hero Zheng Chenggong expelled the Dutch colonists and recovered Taiwan. The Qing court established administrative bodies in Taiwan, elevating it to a province in 1885. Following the victory in the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1945, China lawfully and factually restored Taiwan.

Although cross-strait relations have yet to achieve full reunification since 1949, China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity have never been undermined, and Taiwan has always been part of Chinese territory.

Second, the international community recognises Taiwan as an inalienable part of China. The Cairo Declaration (1943) and the Potsdam Proclamation (1945) – cornerstones of the post-World War II global order – stipulated that Japan must return all the territories it had stolen from China, including Taiwan.

On October 1, 1949, the People’s Republic of China was founded, and the Central People’s Government became the only legitimate government of the whole of China. This was a regime change within the same international legal entity, with no alteration to China’s sovereignty or territory, including its sovereignty over Taiwan.

Third, United Nations resolution 2758 brooks no challenge and misinterpretation. On October 25, 1971, the 26th UN General Assembly adopted resolution 2758 by an overwhelming majority. It restored the PRC’s lawful seat at the UN, affirming that the PRC government is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, including Taiwan. The resolution makes clear Taiwan’s status as a non-sovereign entity and a part of China.

The resolution not only resolved politically, legally and procedurally the issue of representation of the whole of China including Taiwan, but also explicitly affirmed that there is only one seat for China in the United Nations, with no such arrangement as “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan”.

In accordance with the requirements of the UN Charter, all member states are obligated to comply with resolution 2758 and adhere to the one-China principle. Attempts by the parliaments of certain countries to pass so-called bills that distort or deny the UN resolution, dilute or undermine the one-China principle, are, in essence, efforts to rewrite the history of World War II, subvert the post-war international order, and challenge the basic norms governing international relations. Such actions will be inevitably opposed by the whole international community.

Fourth, the Taiwan question is a legacy of the Chinese Civil War. Unlike civil wars in other countries that often result in tens or even hundreds of thousands of casualties, Chinese leaders, unwilling to witness bloodshed among people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, proposed the policy of peaceful reunification, which has been widely supported by people across the strait.

In 1992, through repeated consultations, communications, and exchanges of correspondence, the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and the Straits Exchange Foundation, authorised by each side, reached the “1992 consensus”. On this basis, cross-strait consultations and negotiations commenced, advancing interparty exchanges, establishing institutionalised consultation and communication mechanisms, and gradually establishing overall direct two-way links in mail, business and transport.

In 2015, leaders from both sides of the strait held their first meeting and direct dialogue since 1949, elevating cross-strait political interaction to new heights. However, since 2016, the authorities of Taiwan’s DPP have stubbornly persisted in their separatist position of “Taiwan independence”, constantly distorting and even denying the 1992 consensus, thereby undermining the political foundation for cross-strait consultations and exchanges. They are the primary culprits of undermining regional peace and development.

Fifth, the destiny of Taiwan lies in the will of all Chinese people.

Since 1945, Taiwan has neither been a foreign colony nor under foreign occupation. Therefore, there is no issue of “self-determination” in Taiwan. The relationship between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is that of central and local authorities. Despite the long-standing political divide between the two sides, China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity have never been compromised. Resolving the Taiwan question is solely an internal matter for the Chinese people. The future and destiny of Taiwan can only be determined by more than 1.4 billion Chinese people, including our compatriots in Taiwan.

Sixth, achieving reunification is the shared aspiration of every patriotic Chinese. The renowned Chinese poet in Taiwan, Yu Kwang-chung, once wrote in his poem:

“When I was young, nostalgia was a tiny, tiny stamp, me on this side, mother on the other side.

But later on, nostalgia was a lowly grave, me on the outside, mother on the inside.
And at present, nostalgia becomes a shallow strait, me on this side, mainland on the other side.”

For decades, this poem has expressed the sorrow of separation endured by people on both sides of the strait and their regret over the country’s incomplete reunification.

Since coming to power, the Lai Ching-te authorities have pursued “Taiwan independence” through separatism, engaging in rampant political persecution, judicial witch hunts, and brazenly suppressing the anti-independence camp and pro-reunification forces within Taiwan. The DPP has brought the atmosphere of “green terror” down to the grassroots level of Taiwan society and manipulated public opinion polls. However, none of these actions can alter the firm will of over 1.4 billion Chinese people across the Taiwan Strait, who are calling for reunification.

Last but not least, the one-China Principle is the fundamental political foundation of China-Australia relations. The joint communique of the two governments concerning the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972 clearly stated that Canberra recognises the government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and acknowledges the position of the Chinese government that Taiwan is a province of the People’s Republic of China.

For more than 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia, the Australian governments have adhered to the one-China policy. Be it the one-China principle or the one-China policy, the core is that, there is but one China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.

The Taiwan question involves China’s core interests. Adhering to the one-China principle is not only the foundation for the development of China-Australia relations, but also the cornerstone of championing the rule of law and the safeguarding of international fairness and justice.

Currently, China-Australia relations are developing steadily on a solid foundation, and this positive momentum has been hard-earned. We hope that the Australian side will earnestly respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, honour its political commitment to the one-China policy, be consistent in words and deeds without compromise, and publicly support China’s peaceful reunification.

Regardless of changes in the international and regional landscape, the fundamental fact that there is but one China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China will never change. The widespread consensus in the international community on the one-China principle is unshakable, and the historical trend of China’s reunification is unstoppable.

China is ready to continue working with Australia to deepen mutual understanding and support on issues related to each other’s core interests and major concerns, further enhance mutually beneficial co-operation in all fields, and bring bilateral relations towards greater heights and brighter prospects.

Republished from AFR, 13 January 2025

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