Peace and Stability in the Taiwan Strait Is Important to Asia-Pacific Region

1 June, 2023. Over the past years, due to the complex international situation and uncertain global landscape, including factors such as the Ukraine crisis, there has been a significant surge in essential commodities such as food and energy prices.

This surge has further exacerbated inflationary pressures, which can have far-reaching consequences for countries worldwide, including Tonga. The Tongan people have witnessed price index increases that have often exceeded double digits. It goes without saying that international stability is crucial for the wellbeing of the people around the world.

But recently, there are some illogical rhetoric accusing China of unilaterally changing the status quo in the Taiwan Strait through force or coercion, and of disrupting peace and stability in the Strait. Such claims go against basic common sense on international relations and historical justice, which is very dangerous.

It’s necessary to bring clarity to this issue by presenting the facts and truth and dispelling any misinformation.

Taiwan is part of China’s territory through the history.

The Chinese people have lived in and developed Taiwan for thousands of years, which has been proven by numerous historical records and documents.

As early as 230 AD, the earliest written description of Taiwan was recorded in the Chinese book of “Linhai Shuituzhi”. Starting from the Song and Yuan dynasties, the imperial central governments of China all set up administrative bodies to exercise jurisdiction over Penghu and Taiwan.

In 1895, Japan forced the Qing government to cede Taiwan after Japan’s war of aggression against China.

In 1943, the Cairo Declaration clearly stipulated that all the territories Japan had stolen from China, including Taiwan, should be restored to China. The Potsdam Proclamation of 1945 reiterated that “the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out.” On October 25, 1945, the Chinese government announced that it was resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan and China had recovered Taiwan de jure and de facto.

In 1949, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) was founded, becoming the successor to the Republic of China, and the Central People’s Government became the sole legal government of the whole of China.

The new government replaced the previous Kuomintang regime in a situation where China, as a subject of international law, did not change and China’s sovereignty and territory did not change. Although the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have fallen into a state of protracted political confrontation, the sovereignty and territory of China have never been divided.

What is the status quo in the Taiwan Strait?

Both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China. Taiwan is part of China’s territory. China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity have never been split. This is the real status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan, as an integral part of China, has never been a country, neither in history nor now, and is even less likely to be a country in the future.

Although the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are yet to realize complete reunification, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China have never been divided, nor can they be. Taiwan’s return to China is an important component of the post-WWII international order, as is stated in black and white in the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. 

And it is affirmed in Resolution 2758 of the UN General Assembly adopted in 1971 that, there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.

Who is changing the status quo in the Taiwan Strait?

In recent years, the “Taiwan independence” separatists have been promoting “incremental independence”, pushing for “de-sinicization”, and seeking to create the false impression of “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan”.

The external forces have been meddling in the Taiwan question by fudging and hollowing out the one-China principle, selling arms to Taiwan, and creating chances for Taiwan to expand its so-called “international space”.

They are the ones responsible for disrupting the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, distorting the one-China principle and endangering peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Their definition of rules, status quo and stability is in fact aimed to hollow out the one-China principle, achieve “peaceful division” of China, and ultimately tamper with the history of WWII, subvert the post-war order, and trample on China’s sovereignty.

How can we better maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait?

“Taiwan independence” and cross-Strait peace and stability are as irreconcilable as fire and water. To keep the Taiwan Strait peaceful and stable, it is essential to unequivocally uphold the one-China principle and oppose “Taiwan independence” and foreign interference. The one-China principle is the solid anchor for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Those who talk about peace in the Taiwan Strait but refuse to oppose “Taiwan independence” are in effect conniving at and supporting separatist activities, which is bound to have a serious impact on cross-Strait peace and stability.

China firmly opposes it and will work with the rest of the world to uphold the one-China principle, forestall any attempt to use the Taiwan question to contain China, and work for true peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

The position of the Chinese Government and people on the Taiwan question has been consistent. It is the firm commitment of the more than 1.4 billion Chinese people to resolutely safeguard state sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is the common aspiration and sacred responsibility of all Chinese sons and daughters to realize the complete reunification of the motherland.

The will of the people is not to be defied, and the trend of the times cannot be reversed. No country, no forces and no individual should ever misestimate the firm resolve, strong will and great capability of the Chinese Government and people to defend state sovereignty and territorial integrity and to achieve national reunification and rejuvenation.

China and Tonga are longtime friends who support each other’s major interests. 

182 countries in the world have established diplomatic ties with China on the basis of the one-China principle, which is also the political foundation of China-Tonga relations.

In 1998, His Majesty King Tupou VI, who was then the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense, visited China and signed the joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Tonga.

Since then, His Majesty’s Government has firmly adhered to the one-China principle and supported China’s efforts to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity for a quarter of a century.

Over the past 25 years, China has consistently provided assistance that met the needs of Tonga in line with the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, to achieve its socioeconomic development.

Such support has been truly welcomed by the people of the Kingdom of Tonga. In the wake of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunami, China extended its timely support to Tonga with emergency disaster relief and post-disaster reconstruction assistance, a true commitment to the partnership.

China and Tonga, as longtime close friends, will continue to stand by each other and support each other’s core interests.

Both countries are committed to upholding the UN-centered international system and the international order, underpinned by international law and the basic norms governing international relations built around the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, to safeguard peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.