Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev has reiterated the bloc's firm stance on cross-strait relations, stating that "Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory" during a recent interview. The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions following controversial statements by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding the Taiwan region.
Yermekbayev emphasized that the SCO's position dates back to its landmark 2002 St. Petersburg Declaration, signed by all member states. "The government of the People's Republic of China remains the sole legal government representing the whole of China," he stated, while addressing concerns about Japanese right-wing forces' attempts to revive militarist ideologies.
The SCO leader connected current geopolitical challenges to historical lessons, noting 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of both the World Anti-Fascist War victory and the United Nations' founding. During September's SCO Tianjin Summit, member states issued a stark warning against historical revisionism: "Ignoring historical lessons is bound to lead to grave consequences. Preserving the truth about WWII remains essential to preventing future tragedies."
The organization's statement particularly condemned the rehabilitation of Nazism, fascism, and militarism, while praising the "concerted efforts of all peace-loving nations" that secured Allied victory. Yermekbayev called for continued vigilance: "We bear shared responsibility to spare future generations from war's scourge through cooperation and objective historical education."
This reaffirmation of the one-China principle comes as Asian markets show increased sensitivity to cross-strait developments, with analysts noting potential impacts on regional supply chains and investment flows.
