One-China Principle Unshakable
UNGA Resolution 2758 Unchallengable
Zhang Jianwei
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of Thailand
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the founding of the United Nations (UN). Taiwan’s restoration to China is a victorious outcome of World War II (WWII) and an integral part of the post-WWII international order.
On October 25, 1971, the 26th session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority, restored all lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China in the UN. The resolution resolved once and for all the question of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the U.N., as a political, legal and procedural issue.
Recently, some external forces have colluded with the Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party authorities, deliberately distorted UNGA Resolution 2758, spread the fallacy that Taiwan’s status “undetermined” and openly challenged the authority of the U.N.and the post-WWII international order, posing serious threat to regional peace and stability . I would like to review the history,explain the ins and outs of the Taiwan question and uphold the one-China principle.
I One-China principle and UNGA Resolution 2758
The core meaning of the one-China principle includes three aspects: there is but one China in the world, the Taiwan region is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.
UNGA Resolution 2758 decides to restore all its rights to the People’s Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place where they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it.
The one-China principle is the premise and foundation for UNGA Resolution 2758, while the resolution solemnly confirms and fully embodies the one-China principle. The resolution makes it clear that there is but one China in the world and the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate representative of the whole of China, including the Taiwan region. There is no such thing as “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.”
II UNGA Resolution 2758 brooks no challenge to its legitimacy, validity, and authority
UNGA Resolution 2758 carries extensive and authoritative legal force, and serves as the authoritative basis for the U.N. and organizations related to it to properly handle the Taiwan question. After the adoption of UNGA Resolution 2758, all official U.N. documents referred to Taiwan as “Taiwan, Province of China.”
It was clearly stated in the official legal opinions of the Office of Legal Affairs of the U.N. Secretariat that “the United Nations considers ‘Taiwan’ as a province of China with no separate status” and the “‘authorities’ in ‘Taipei’ are not considered to … enjoy any form of government status.” This has been the consistent position of the U.N. and is clearly documented.
The whole process leading to the adoption of Resolution 2758 speaks volume for the irreversible trend of the international community to uphold the one-China principle. This is not only a victory of the Chinese people, but also a victory of people around the world against hegemonism and power politics.The adoption of Resolution 2758 had a wide-reaching and profound political impact on the practice of international relations.
It effectively made the one-China principle a basic norm of international relations and a prevailing consensus in the international community. To date, 183 countries, including Thailand,have established and developed diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle.
III One-China principle is the political foundation of China-Thailand relations.
The People’s Republic of China and the Kingdom of Thailand signed the Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations on July 1st ,1975. The Joint Communique stated that the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, acknowledges the position of the Chinese Government that there is but one China and that Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory, and decides to remove all its official representations from Taiwan within one month from the date of signature of this communique.
The Government of the People’s Republic of China recognizes the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and agrees to respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Thailand.
The Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the People’s Republic of China also share the conviction that, in spite of the differences in the political, economic and social systems of the Kingdom of Thailand and the People’s Republic of China, there should be no obstacle to the development of peaceful and friendly relations between the two countries and peoples in accordance with the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations half a century ago, the two countries have adhered to mutual respect, equality, sincerity, mutual trust and mutual assistance, and have always firmly supported each other in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests. Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, China-Thailand relations maintain healthy and stable development momentum with fruitful cooperation across various fields.The sentiment of “China and Thailand as close as one family” has gained greater popularity.
The Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand published the Joint Statement on Advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and Building a China-Thailand Community with a Shared Future for Enhanced Stability, Prosperity, and Sustainability through a Forward-looking and People-centered Vision in 2025, in which Thailand reiterated firmly upholding the One-China Policy, recognizing the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China and Taiwan as an inalienable part of China, and will not support any call for the independence of Taiwan. Thailand also supports China’s “One Country, Two Systems” policy.
China highly appreciates Thailand’s consistent and firm adherence to the one-China principle. As being a new historical starting point of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand and the “Golden Jubilee 50 Years of China-Thailand Friendship”, China is willing to further consolidate political mutual trust, firmly support issues involving each other’s core interests and major concerns, and jointly safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, the international system with the U.N. at its core, and the international order underpinned by international law.
China is devoted for promotion of a China-Thailand community with a shared future with more achievements and benefits for the two countries and the world.
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