Cao Xiaolin
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the 80th anniversary of Taiwan’s restoration, and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Taiwan’s restoration to China is a vital part of the outcomes of World War II and the post-war international order. Recently, some countries have colluded with the Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party authorities, distorted and challenged UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, rehashed the fallacy of Taiwan’s status is “undetermined”, and openly challenged the authority of the United Nations and the post-war international order. I would like to explain the background and context of UNGA Resolution 2758 here to set the record straight.
1. UNGA Resolution 2758 solemnly confirms and fully embodies the one-China principle.
On October 25, 1971, at the 26th session of the UN General Assembly, Resolution 2758 was adopted with an overwhelming majority, which solemnly confirms and fully embodies the one-China principle. The resolution makes it clear that there is but one China in the world and the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate representative of the whole of China, including the Taiwan region. There is no such thing as “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.” UNGA Resolution 2758 carries extensive and authoritative legal force, and serves as the authoritative basis for the UN and organizations related to it to properly handle the Taiwan question. After the adoption of UNGA Resolution 2758, all official UN documents referred to Taiwan as “Taiwan, Province of China.” It was clearly stated in the official legal opinions of the Office of Legal Affairs of the UN Secretariat that “the United Nations considers ‘Taiwan’ as a province of China with no separate status” and the “‘authorities’ in ‘Taipei’ are not considered to ... enjoy any form of government status.”
2. To challenge UNGA Resolution 2758 is to challenge the post-World War II international order and the authority of the UN, which is doomed to fail.
The restoration of the People’s Republic of China’s lawful seat in the UN marked the return of the Chinese people, or one-fourth of the world’s population, to the stage of the UN. This is of great, far-reaching significance both to China and the world. Any attempt to challenge Resolution 2758 constitutes not only a challenge to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also a challenge to the authority of the UN as well as the post-World War II international order.
Taiwan has never been an independent country, not in the past, not at present and still less in the future. The question of Taiwan’s status was fundamentally resolved in 1945, when the Chinese people won the great victory of the War of Resistance against Japanese aggression. This victory was won by the Chinese people including our Taiwan compatriots through hard-fought battles and great sacrifices. It shall by no means be undermined by the false narratives of some Western politicians. Attempt to turn back the wheel of history and separate Taiwan from China once again will never be accepted by the 1.4 billion Chinese people or supported by the international community.
3. The one-China principle is the key for peace across the Taiwan Strait, as well as the political foundation of China-Qatar relations.
The one-China principle is the political foundation for China’s diplomatic relations with countries in the world, and it has become a basic norm of international relations and a universal consensus of the international community. Some countries are now talking about maintaining the “status quo” across the Taiwan Strait. The true status quo across the Taiwan Strait is that the Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to one China. Those seeking to change this status quo are precisely the Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party, which refuses to acknowledge the “1992 Consensus” that embodies the one-China principle, and the external forces that support and connive their pursuit for “Taiwan independence”. China is willing to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and the greatest effort, but its resolve and will to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Qatar, Qatar has always adhered to the one-China principle and firmly supported China’s position on the Taiwan question. China highly appreciates the position of Qatar and stands ready to work with Qatar to render mutual support on issues concerning each other’s core interests, jointly safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, so as to promote the steady and long-term development of the China-Qatar strategic partnership.
