The white paper was released to reiterate the fact that Taiwan is part of China, to demonstrate the resolve of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese people and their commitment to national reunification, and to emphasise the position and policies of the CPC and the Chinese government in the new era.
The white paper points out that, Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times. This statement has a sound basis in history and jurisprudence.
The UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 is a political document encapsulating the one-China principle whose legal authority leaves no room for doubt and has been acknowledged worldwide. We are one China, and Taiwan is part of China.
This is an indisputable fact supported by history and the law. Taiwan has never been a state and its status as part of China is unalterable. The white paper says that, the CPC is committed to the historic mission of resolving the Taiwan question and realising China’s complete reunification.
Under its resolute leadership, people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits have worked together to de-escalate tension across the Straits. They have set out on a path of peaceful development and made many breakthroughs in improving cross-Straits relations.
Under the guidance of the CPC, great progress has been made in cross-Straits relations over the past seven decades, especially since the estrangement between the two sides was ended.
The white paper says that, peaceful reunification and “one country, two systems” are our basic principles for resolving the Taiwan question and the best approach to realising national reunification.
Embodying the Chinese wisdom – we thrive by embracing each other – they take full account of Taiwan's realities and are conducive to long-term stability in Taiwan after reunification. It is an approach that is grounded in democratic principles, demonstrates good will, seeks peaceful resolution of the Taiwan question, and delivers mutual benefit.
The white paper emphasises that, we are ready to create vast space for peaceful reunification, but we will leave no room for separatist activities in any form. We will work with the greatest sincerity and exert our utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification. But we will not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures.
This is to guard against external interference and all separatist activities. In no way does it target our fellow Chinese in Taiwan. Use of force would be the last resort taken under compelling circumstances. Lately, in disregard of China’s strong opposition and serious representations, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited China’s Taiwan region.
This is a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués. It has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-US 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”. This political farce is provoked entirely by some US politicians and “Taiwan independence” forces.
The root cause is that the US attempts to use the Taiwan question to contain China, and the Taiwan authorities have been soliciting US support to seek “Taiwan independence”. The actions of the Democratic Progressive Party authorities have resulted in tension in cross-Straits relations, endangering peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, and undermining the prospects and restricting the space for peaceful reunification. These are obstacles that must be removed in advancing the process of peaceful reunification.
External forces have encouraged and instigated provocative actions by the separatist forces. These have intensified cross-Straits tension and confrontation, and undermined peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
This runs counter to the underlying global trends of peace, development and win-win cooperation, and goes against the wishes of the international community and the aspiration of all peoples. Relying on external forces will achieve nothing for Taiwan’s separatists, and using Taiwan to contain China is doomed to fail. China highly appreciates Botswana’s firm commitment to the one-China principle.
Chinese people have always been cherishing the most valuable support from Botswana at the 26th session of UN General Assembly in 1971 for restoring the lawful seat of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations despite the fact that China and Botswana had yet to establish diplomatic relations. To date, 181 countries including Botswana have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle.
This fully shows that adherence to the one-China principle is an overriding trend that represents international justice and enjoys popular support. Peaceful cross-Straits reunification is of benefit not only to the Chinese nation, but to all peoples and the international community as a whole.
At present, the CPC has united the Chinese people and led them in fulfilling the First Centenary Goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects as scheduled, and in embarking on a new journey towards the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a modern socialist country. As China’s national rejuvenation has become a historical inevitability, we now have better conditions, more confidence, and greater capabilities to achieve national reunification.
The Chinese people are firm in their resolve and have a deep commitment to safeguarding China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Realizing China’s complete reunification at an early date is a shared strong aspiration of all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation. The wheel of history rolls on towards national reunification, and it will not be stopped by any individual or any force!
WANG XUEFENG, is Chinese Ambassador to Botswana
