Recently, Lin Chia-lung, a “Taiwan independence” separatist who calls himself “the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan,” penned an article in some Philippine newspapers titled ‘Chip in with Taiwan’ for global peace and prosperity. This article, which confuses right and wrong and touts "Taiwan independence," is absurd and dangerous.
It is well known that there is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an integral part of the Chinese territory. The Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Taiwan has never been a country; the only reference to the Taiwan region in the U.N. is “Taiwan, Province of China.” How can a province of China possibly have a “foreign minister”?
It was precisely this Lin Chia-lung who, not long ago, sneaked into the Philippines joining some Taiwanese delegation. China firmly opposed the move and lodged solemn representations with the Philippine side. When inquired in the Philippine Senate hearing, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Theresa Lazaro stated that the Philippines adheres to the one-China policy, does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, and leaves it to the Chinese people to resolve cross-straits matters. Subsequently, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement reiterating the Philippines’ longstanding one-China policy, and stressing that consistent with the Philippines’ one-China Policy, no official from Taiwan is recognized as a member of the business delegation that recently visited the Philippines. Lin Chia-lung’s actions are nothing but self-deception and self-humiliation.
On September 3, China solemnly held the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Eighty years ago, the Chinese people thoroughly defeated the Japanese militarist aggressors after fighting a bitter and heroic war of resistance for 14 years and at the cost of over 35 million casualties. This marked the complete victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. International legal instruments such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation clearly stipulated that “all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Manchuria, Formosa, and the Pescadores, shall be restored” to China. On October 25, 1945, the Chinese government proclaimed the restoration of the exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan. Taiwan’s restoration to China is an outcome of the WWII victory and part and parcel of the postwar international order.
As a result of the ensuing civil war in China, the Kuomintang was defeated and retreated to Taiwan. A prolonged state of political confrontation across the Strait followed. Since founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on October 1, 1949, the Central People’s Government became the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Although cross-strait reunification is yet to be achieved, the fact that Taiwan is part of China’s territory has never changed and will never be allowed to change.
The one-China principle is the political foundation on which China establishes and develops bilateral relations with 183 countries including the Philippines. It is a prevailing international consensus and a universally recognized basic norm governing international relations. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, adopted in 1971, fully reflects and solemnly reaffirms the one-China principle. The Resolution has resolved once and for all the question of representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the United Nations as a political, legal and procedural issue. It has made clear that there is only one seat of China in the United Nations, precluding “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.”
In recent years, it is the “Taiwan independence” separatist activities vigorously carried out by the DPP authorities and condoned and supported by the external forces that have triggered tensions in the Taiwan Strait. The Taiwan question is not a so-called issue of “democracy versus authoritarianism,” nor is it about supply chains or semiconductors. It is a struggle between separatism and anti-separatism. We must remain highly vigilant against the words and deeds of Lin Chia-lung and other “Taiwan independence” separatists who peddle separatism and undermine regional peace and stability. Their schemes must be firmly opposed and will never be allowed to succeed.