On 2 August, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited China’s Taiwan Province, which is provocative and strongly condemned by the Chinese government and people. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected and allows no interference from external forces in any form. In September 2019, Solomon Islands, on the basis of one-China principle, established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. As the Chinese ambassador to Solomon Islands, I have every reason to help SI people better understand historical background and facts over China's Taiwan.

Realizing China’s complete reunification is a shared aspiration of all beloved people of the Chinese nation

Taiwan has been an inalienable part of China since ancient times. Early in 14 century, Chinese central government exercised jurisdiction over Taiwan. From early 17 centrury on, western colonialists and Japanese militarists invaded Taiwan because China was weak. After World War II, a number of international legal documents including the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation have affirmed China’s sovereignty over Taiwan in clear-cut terms.

After founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1st, 1949, the Kuomintang Party fled to Taiwan after being defeated in the civil war of China. The two sides of the Taiwan Strait have yet to be reunified, but the fact that the mainland and Taiwan belong to China has never changed. Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China reunification is a shared aspiration of all Chinese patriots across the Taiwan Strait.

One-China principle is a universal consensus of the international community

There is but one China in the world, Taiwan 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. This has been clearly recognized by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 in 1971. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, 181 countries have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of one-China principle. The one-China principle is a universal consensus of the international community and a basic norm in international relations. In 1979, the United States made clear announcement in the China-U.S. Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, “The United States of America recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. Within this context, the people of the United States will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan,” One-China principle is centerpiece of the three Sino-US Joint Communiqués, and the premise and foundation for the establishment and development of China-US relations.

The provocative behavior of the United States threatens peace and stability across the region

On 28 July 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping had a tel-conversation with US President Joe Biden at the request of the latter. During the phone call, President Xi emphasized that it is the firm commitment of more than 1.4 billion Chinese people to resolutely safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity of China. The US should honor one-China principle and implement the three joint communiqués both in word and in action. President Biden reiterated that one-China policy of the US has not changed and will not change, and that the US does not support “Taiwan independence”.

Those reassuring words are still resonating in our ears. But on 2 August, in disregard of China’s strong opposition and serious representations, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited China’s Taiwan Province. Congress, as a part of the U.S. Government, is obliged to strictly observe one-China policy of the U.S. Government and refrain from having any official exchanges with China’s Taiwan Province. Pelosi is the leader of U.S. Congress. Her visit to Taiwan is reckless and irresponsible. In whatever form and for whatever pretext, it is serious political provocation. No country, no forces and no individual should ever misjudge the firm resolve, strong will and great capability of the Chinese Government and people to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity. Any attempt to play the “Taiwan card” and use Taiwan to contain China are doomed to fail.

The One-China principle is the foundation of China-Solomon Islands relations

On September 21, 2019, Solomon Islands established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the One-China principle. The Hon. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare solemnly announced Solomon Islands made crucial decision to recognize the One-China principle, and stands on the right side of history, backed by the Resolution 2758 adopted by the United Nations in 1971.

Only three years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, people of our two countries have witnessed fruitful cooperation in infrastructure, anti-COVID-19, health, economy, trade, people-to-people exchanges and sub-national cooperation, bringing about tangible benefits to the two peoples. The China-aided stadium for 2023 Pacific games is in good progress with high quality construction, provided strong support and solid foundation for Solomon Islands to host the event. All countries in the region will benefit.

The Taiwan question concerns China's core interest, and the One-China principle is the foundation of China-Solomon Islands relations. It is believed that the government and people of Solomon Islands will continue to uphold the principles of mutual respect, equality and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, support China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and jointly take bilateral relations to a new height.

    By H.E. Li Ming, Chinese Ambassador to SI