What does the newly released white paper on Taiwan tell us?

2022-08-13 22:00

OnAugust13, 2022,Local mediaObservercarried an article authored by Her Excellency Madame Zhang Yanling, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Peoples RepublicofChinatoAntiguaandBarbuda,titled What does the newly released white paper on Taiwan tell us? . The full text is as follows:

On August 10, the State Council of the Peoples Republic of China published a white paper titled “The Taiwan Question and China's Reunification in the New Era”.

Before this, two previous white papers on Taiwan were publihsed in August 1993 and February 2000. The newly released white paper comprehensively elaborates on the positions and policies of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government on advancing and realizing national reunification in the new era and sends a clear political signal to the DPP authorities which collude with external forces in seeking "Taiwan independence", making provocations and changing the status quo under the current complex cross-Straits situation. So what does the new white paper tell us?

First, Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times. This statement has a sound basis in history and jurisprudence. The earliest references to this effect are to be found, among others, in Seaboard Geographic Gazetteer compiled in the year 230. In 1885, the Qing Government set up Taiwan as the 20th province of China. In 1895, the Qing government was forced to cede Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Japan. In fulfilling the obligations laid down in the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, after Japans defeat, Taiwan was restored to China. In 1945, the Chinese government announced that it was resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan. From that point forward, China had recovered Taiwan de jure and de facto through a host of documents with international legal effect.

In 1949, the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China was founded, the new government replaced the previous KMT regime in a situation where China, as a subject under international law, did not change and China's sovereignty and inherent territory did not change. As a natural result, the government of the PRC should enjoy and exercise China's full sovereignty, which includes its sovereignty over Taiwan.

Second, the one-China principle represents the universal consensus of the international community and is consistent with the basic norms of international relations.Resolution 2758 adopted by the United Nations General Assembly undertook to restore all its rights to the People's Republic of China and spelled out that China has one single seat in the UN, so there is no such thing as two Chinasor one China, one Taiwan. It was clearly stated in the official legal opinions of the Office of Legal Affairs of the UN Secretariat that the United Nations considers Taiwanas a province of China with no separate status, and the “‘authoritiesin Taipeiare not considered to... enjoy any form of government status. To date, 181 countries including the United States have established diplomatic relations with the PRC on the basis of the one-China principle.

Thirdthe CPC is committed to the historic mission of resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China's complete reunification. After the founding of the PRC in 1949, the CPC proposed the basic policy for peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question. The one-China principle was subscribed to by the majority of countries, laying important groundwork for peaceful reunification. In 1970s and 1980s, the CPC introduced the creative and well-conceived concept of One Country, Two Systems, took action to ease military confrontation across the Taiwan Straits, restore contact, and open up people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. In early 1990s, the CPC facilitated agreement across the Straits on the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle. It initiated cross-Straits consultations and negotiations, and expanded cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation in various fields. In 2005, the CPC hosted the first talks between the leaders of the CPC and the Kuomintang in six decades since 1945. In 2015, the CPC and the Chinese government facilitated the first meeting and direct dialogue between leaders across the strait since 1949, raising exchanges and interactions to new heights. On the other hand, the CPC has also been taking firm action against separatist activities along this process.

Fourth, national reunification by peaceful means is the first choice of the CPC and the Chinese government in resolving the Taiwan question. But we will not renounce the use of force. This is to guard against external interference and all separatist activities. The Chinese government upholds the Basic Principles of Peaceful Reunification and One Country, Two Systems. In designing the specifics for implementing One Country, Two Systems, we will give full consideration to the realities in Taiwan and the views and proposals from all walks of life on both sides, and fully accommodate the interests and sentiments of our compatriots in Taiwan. Meanwhile, it is the sacred right of every sovereign state to safeguard national unity and territorial integrity. We will work with the greatest sincerity and exert our utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification but also reserve the option of taking all necessary measures against the external interference and Taiwan-independence separatist forces. Use of force would be the last resort taken under compelling circumstances.

Fifth, there is a bright prospect for the peaceful reunification of the motherland.Taiwans economy is highly complementary with that of the mainland. After reunification, the systems and mechanisms for cross-Straits economic cooperation will be further improved. Backed up by the vast mainland market, Taiwan's economy will enjoy broader prospects. Provided that China's sovereignty, security and development interests are guaranteed, Taiwan will enjoy a high degree of autonomy as a special administrative region. Taiwan's social system and its way of life will be fully respected. Foreign countries can continue to develop economic and cultural relations with Taiwan. With the approval of the central government of China, they may set up consulates or other official and quasi-official institutions in Taiwan, international organizations and agencies may establish offices there and relevant international conventions can be applied to Taiwan.

China's complete reunification is a process that cannot be halted. The reunification of China will not harm the legitimate interests of any other country, including any economic interests they might have in Taiwan. On the contrary, it will bring more development opportunities to all countries and will create more positive momentum for prosperity and stability in the Asia-Pacific and the rest of the world. Under the strong leadership of the CPC, and with Chinas development and progress, we now have better conditions, more confidence, and greater capabilities to complete the historic mission of national reunification, so that both sides of the Straits can enjoy a better life. It is our hope that the governments and peoples of those countries which uphold fairness and justice could continue to lend their valuable support.