NOT long ago, elections were held in the Taiwan region of China. After the elections, over 100 countries and international organisations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the African Union and the League of Arab States, have reaffirmed the One-China principle to support China in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and oppose any form of “Taiwan independence” through official statements, diplomatic declarations and spokesperson responses. This number continues to grow.

These voices of justice reflect the widespread consensus in the international community to uphold the UN Charter and the basic principles of international relations, including the One-China principle, representing the trend of the times and historical momentum. Recently, the government of Nauru resumed diplomatic ties with China, once again demonstrating that the One-China principle is the prevailing trend and aligns with the will of the people.

Taiwan has been an integral part of Chinese territory since ancient times. The earliest records about ‘Taiwan’ can date back to the Three Kingdoms period in ancient China (230 AD). In 1335, during the Yuan Dynasty in ancient China, a patrol office was established in the Penghu Islands. In 1885, the Qing Dynasty government reorganized Taiwan as a province, making it the 20th province of China at that time.

In 1894, Japan initiated the aggressive ‘Sino-Japanese War’ against China and occupied Taiwan. In 1943, China, the United States, and the United Kingdom jointly issued the ‘Cairo Declaration’ in Cairo, explicitly stating the return of Taiwan, which Japan had seized, to China. Subsequently, in 1945, China, United States, United Kingdom and Soviet Union jointly issued the ‘Potsdam Proclamation’, with Article 8 stipulating that the provisions of the ‘Cairo Declaration’ would be implemented. Japan accepted the ‘Potsdam Proclamation’ and declared unconditional surrender.

This series of legally binding documents constituted a part of the post-war international order and laid the historical and legal foundation for Taiwan being an inalienable part of China.

The Taiwan question is China’s internal affair and a core component of China’s core interests. There is but one China in the world. The government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. This has been confirmed by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and is a widely recognized consensus shared by the international community. Based on the One-China principle, China has established diplomatic relations with 183 countries worldwide.

The Chinese government firmly opposes “Taiwan independence”, “two Chinas” and “one China, one Taiwan” and it will not tolerate any form of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatism.

Since coming to power in 2016, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have persistently adhered to a ‘Taiwan independence’ position, refusing to accept the One-China principle, distorting and denying the ‘1992 Consensus’, promoting “de-Sinicisation” and gradual ‘Taiwan independence’ on the island, obstructing and sabotaging cross-strait exchanges and cooperation, colluding with external forces to provoke separatist activities, intensifying efforts to “seek independence through force” and “resist reunification through force”, leading to tension in cross-strait relations, jeopardizing peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, undermining the prospects of peaceful reunification, squeezing the space for peaceful reunification, and harming the common interests of compatriots on both sides of the strait and the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation. China’s stance on resolving the Taiwan question and achieving national reunification is consistent and unwavering. The results of the elections in the Taiwan region cannot change the underlying dynamic and future direction of cross-Strait relations or obstruct the historical trend and momentum of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the reunification of China.

The successive governments of Pakistan have consistently committed to the One-China principle, firmly supporting the efforts of the Chinese government to achieve national reunification and opposing any form of ‘Taiwan independence’. China highly appreciates Pakistan’s long-standing commitment to the One-China principle. We believe that regardless of changes in the situation in the Taiwan Strait and the international landscape, Pakistani friends will undoubtedly continue to steadfastly support the Chinese people in opposing separatist activities of ‘Taiwan independence’ and striving for national reunification, thereby advancing the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between China and Pakistan to new heights through practical actions.

The writer is consul general of China in Karachi

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2024