The Chinese mainland has recently criticized attempts by the Taiwan region’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities and some Western countries to misinterpret the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758, which fully reflects the one-China principle.
According to Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, the DPP authorities and certain Western nations are maliciously distorting UNGA Resolution 2758. They falsely claim that “the resolution is unrelated to Taiwan” and exploit the issue of “representation of China at the UN” to create their own narrative.
“They distort the facts, violate international law, and openly challenge the international order and rules with the aim to create momentum for ‘Taiwan independence,’ undermining the consensus of the international community that supports the one-China principle,” said Chen on Tuesday.
Historical Context
Chen emphasized that Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times. Historical records, such as the Seaboard Geographic Gazetteer compiled in 230 during the Three Kingdoms Period, reference Taiwan as part of China. Over successive dynasties—including the Sui, Song, Yuan, and Qing—China’s central governments established administrative bodies to exercise jurisdiction over Taiwan and the Penghu Islands.
In 1895, following Japan’s victory in the First Sino-Japanese War, the Qing government was forced to cede Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Japan. However, after World War II, the Cairo Declaration (1943), the Potsdam Proclamation (1945), and Japan’s Instrument of Surrender (1945) confirmed the return of Taiwan to China. On October 25, 1945, Taiwan was officially reintegrated into Chinese territory.
UNGA Resolution 2758 and the One-China Principle
At its 26th session in October 1971, the UNGA adopted Resolution 2758, restoring the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the only legitimate representative of China in the UN. Chen noted that the resolution clearly settled the political, legal, and procedural issues regarding China’s representation, affirming that there is but one China, and Taiwan is an integral part of it.
Chen pointed out that attempts to create concepts such as “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan” are baseless and violate international consensus. The UN and its specialized agencies refer to Taiwan as “Taiwan, Province of China,” and official legal opinions stress that Taiwan holds no separate status.
International Consensus
Under the one-China principle, China has established diplomatic relations with 183 countries. The principle is also the foundation of China’s relations with the United States, as recognized in the three Sino-U.S. Joint Communiques.
“This fully shows that the one-China principle is a prevailing consensus in the international community and a basic norm governing international relations,” Chen stated. “It is also where global opinion trends and the arc of history bend.”
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Chinese mainland slams attempts to misinterpret UNGA Resolution 2758
cgtn.com
