China's Foreign Ministry released a comprehensive position paper on Tuesday reaffirming the one-China principle through the lens of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, which restored Beijing's UN seat in 1971. The document emphasizes Taiwan's status as an inseparable part of Chinese territory and warns against historical revisionism in international relations.
Historical Context and Legal Foundation
The paper details how Resolution 2758 resolved China's UN representation 'once and for all,' recognizing the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government representing all of China, including the Taiwan region. It clarifies that Taiwan's absence from UN participation stems from its status as a Chinese province rather than an independent state.
Post-War Order Under Scrutiny
Beijing positions the resolution as fundamental to maintaining the post-World War II international framework, stating that challenges to its authority 'constitute not only a challenge to China's sovereignty but to the UN system itself.' The document references 183 countries currently maintaining diplomatic ties with China under the one-China principle.
Contemporary Implications
While acknowledging unresolved cross-strait relations, the paper asserts that Taiwan's status 'has never changed and shall never change.' It criticizes recent attempts to create 'false narratives' about Taiwan's international standing, framing such efforts as destabilizing to global governance structures.
