The signed article titled "Taiwan: A Province of the People's Republic of China Never A Sovereign Nation" by Ambassador Wang Lutong is published in the Jakarta Post and Antara News. The full text is as follows:
Taiwan: A Province of the People's Republic of China
Never A Sovereign Nation
Wang Lutong, Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia
Recently, a handful of Western countries, together with certain political forces on the Taiwan island, tried to challenge the basic facts on the Taiwan question. They deliberately misinterpret UNGA Resolution 2758 in an attempt to distort and hollow out the one-China principle, while openly clamouring for “Taiwan independence”. These actions and remarks run counter to facts and international law, undermine the authority of the UN, and jeopardize regional peace and stability.
Many friends in Indonesia express serious concern over this matter. As the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Indonesia, I feel it is my duty to clarify the essence of the Taiwan question and set the record straight.
Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. It is a historical and legal fact that should not be distorted.
Taiwan has been part of China since ancient times. A large number of historical records and annals document the development of Taiwan by the Chinese people in earlier periods. As early as the 12th century, the Chinese Government established administrative institutions on the island and exercised jurisdiction over it. In 1895, Japan seized Taiwan through war. Following the victory in World War II, a series of instruments with legal effect under international law, including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, explicitly stated that Japan must return China’s territories, including Taiwan. On October 25, 1945, the ceremony to accept Japan’s surrender in the Taiwan province of the China war theater was held in Taipei. The Chinese Government announced that it was resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan. Both history and international law demonstrate that Taiwan has always been a part of China and has never become an independent country.
Sovereignty belongs to the state and is not altered by changes in government. Although the government exercising sovereignty in 1945 was the Republic of China, the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 marked the establishment of the sole legitimate government representing all of China. It inherits full sovereignty over China, including Taiwan. The current situation, namely the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have not yet been reunified, is merely a stage in the process of national reunification and does not imply that China’s sovereignty over Taiwan is undetermined. The Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair. Any attempt to advocate “Taiwan independence” under this pretext is a challenge to China’s national sovereignty.
To date, 183 countries, including Indonesia, have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle. This principle is widely incorporated into bilateral documents and serves as a fundamental norm for the international community in handling the Taiwan question.
UNGA Resolution 2758 fundamentally affirmed that there is only one China in the world.
In 1971, the 26th Session of the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority, restoring all lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China in the UN. The resolution clearly recognized the representatives of the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the only legitimate representatives of China to the UN, and expelled forthwith the representatives of the Taiwan region from the UN and all the organizations related to it. The resolution made it clear that China’s representation in the UN belongs to the People’s Republic of China, and this representation includes the Taiwan region. The Government of the People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate representative of China and exercises sovereignty over the entirety of China, including Taiwan.
This resolution established the one-China principle both politically and legally, completely rejecting any possibility of “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.” The UN system has consistently adhered to this principle and does not allow Taiwan to participate in the UN or its specialized agencies under any name or in any capacity. Taiwan is referred to as “Taiwan, province of China” in all UN’s official documents.
A small number of Western countries and the Taiwan authorities have been trumpeting for Taiwan’s “meaningful participation” in or “return” to the UN system, and piecing together distorted arguments in a blatant challenge to UNGA Resolution 2758. Such attempts are both absurd and dangerous, and have consistently ended in complete failure. It clearly reflects the reality of international law and the broad consensus of the international community. The so-called “Republic of China” hyped up by the Taiwan authorities is illegal and invalid, and is not recognized by the UN or the international community, including Indonesia.
The Taiwan question is China’s internal affair. No external force has the right to interfere.
The Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair. It concerns China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which brooks no external interference. Upholding the one-China principle is the political foundation for China’s diplomatic relations with countries around the world, including Indonesia. Any attempt to “internationalize” the Taiwan question violates the UN Charter and the fundamental principle of non-interference in internal affairs in international relations.
Resolving the Taiwan question and achieving complete national reunification is the shared aspiration of all Chinese people and an essential requirement for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The position of the Chinese Government is very clear: we have patience and are ready to pursue the prospect of peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and utmost efforts. We stay committed to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, and place the well-being of Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits at the heart of our efforts. We are committed to promoting peaceful and integrated development of cross-Strait relations, and seeking peace across the Taiwan Strait, well-being for all Chinese people, and national rejuvenation for the Chinese nation.
China is committed to peaceful reunification, but it will never tolerate attempts by “Taiwan independence” forces to split the country. No external interference can change the fact that Taiwan is a part of China. The Taiwan authorities’ attempts to seek “Taiwan independence” through soliciting foreign support and military buildup, as well as the indulgence and support of certain major powers, are the root causes of tensions across the Straits. Countries in the region should remain highly vigilant and firmly oppose such actions.
China and Indonesia are comprehensive strategic partners. Our two countries are working together to build a community with a shared future of regional and global influence. China highly appreciates Indonesia’s long-standing and commitment to the one-China principle. I sincerely hope that friends from all walks of life in Indonesia will gain a deeper understanding of the essence of the Taiwan question, and offer broader and stronger support for China’s cause of peaceful reunification. Together, we will contribute more to regional peace and stability, as well as international fairness and justice.
