In a firm reiteration of the one-China principle, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning declared on Thursday that any attempts by Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities to seek “Taiwan independence” through foreign support are destined to fail.
During a regular press briefing, Mao Ning responded to reports of Wu Chih-Chung, who serves as the “deputy foreign minister” for the Taiwan authorities, attending the inauguration ceremony of the “president” of Somaliland as a “special envoy” for Lai Ching-te.
“I would like to reiterate that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China,” Mao emphasized. “The one-China principle is a basic norm governing international relations and a prevailing consensus in the international community.”
Mao Ning expressed China’s appreciation for the government of Somalia’s commitment to the one-China principle and affirmed China’s firm support for Somalia in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“China firmly opposes any mutual establishment of official institutions or any form of official exchanges between Taiwan authorities and Somaliland,” Mao stated. “We urge relevant parties in Somalia to recognize the trend of history sooner rather than later and to strictly uphold the one-China position.”
Somaliland, a self-declared state in the Horn of Africa, is internationally recognized as part of Somalia. The attendance of Wu Chih-Chung at the inauguration ceremony has been viewed by Beijing as an act undermining the one-China principle.
The DPP authorities have been accused by Beijing of pursuing “Taiwan independence” by seeking support from foreign entities, a move that China considers a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The reaffirmation of the one-China principle underscores China’s steadfast stance on issues pertaining to Taiwan and highlights the sensitivity surrounding international interactions involving the Taiwan authorities.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
