ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC—Chinese Ambassador to Dominica Chu Maoming says St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves made “significant errors” when he referred to the one-China principle and the Taiwan question during his public lecture here earlier this month.
The diplomat said that while Gonsalves is a “seasoned statesman in the region, it must be pointed out that his understanding of the one-China principle and the Taiwan question contains significant errors.”
Delivering the annual Dame Eugenia Charles Memorial Lecture here last week, Gonsalves, one of the region’s longest-serving heads of government, discussed “Our Caribbean Civilization and its Political Prospects.”
Gonsalves defended his government’s decision to have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which China considers a renegade province. This is even though most of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries enjoy diplomatic status with Beijing rather than Taipei.
Asked by a member of the audience whether he believes China’s influence in the Caribbean is akin to its recolonization of the region, Gonsalves replied that within the seven-member Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the governments of St. Lucia, St. Kitts-Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines enjoy diplomatic status with Taiwan.
“Haiti is the other country in the region with diplomatic relations with Taiwan. From time to time, the mainland Chinese send their emissaries directly and indirectly so that I can change the relations.
‘We are not going to do so. Let me make it plain. I have nothing; I don’t say anything against mainland China. Our position is simple: there is one Chinese civilization of which you can have more than one legitimate political organizer of state.”
He said Taiwan has been part of mainland China for centuries, and in 1949, the defeated Chinese nationalists fled to the island.
“They claimed that they represented the whole of China, more and more that became threadbare because you can’t have a small island representing the whole of China,” Gonsalves said, adding that “for all practical purposes, two entities emerged.”
The Chinese diplomat said that while Prime Minister Gonsalves seems to have some knowledge of Taiwan’s modern history, “his assertion that “there is one Chinese civilization of which you can have more than one legitimate political organizer of state” is incorrect.
“On October 1, 1949, the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) was established, replacing the government of the Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Despite the change of government, China, as a subject of international law, did not change.
“There has been no change to China’s sovereignty and inherent territory, and the PRC Government naturally has and exercises China’s full sovereignty, including the sovereignty of Taiwan,” Maoming said.
He said in 1971, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 affirmed this reality by recognizing the representatives of the PRC as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations. “Under constitutional principles of one country, one government, and the rules of international law concerning recognition, acknowledging the PRC as the only legitimate government of China necessarily precludes any claim to representative status by the Taiwan authorities.”
Maoming said that the Office of Legal Affairs of the UN Secretariat has repeatedly reaffirmed in the official legal opinions based on Resolution 2758 that “Taiwan is part of China,” “Taiwan is a province of China with no separate status,” and “the ‘authorities’ in ‘Taipei’ are not considered to … enjoy any form of governmental status”.
He said furthermore that if Taiwan is mentioned in UN documents, the island must be referred to as “Taiwan, Province of China.”
“For over 50 years, China’s contributions to U.N. and other international organization budgets have included Taiwan’s GDP, underscoring the fact that there was to be no such thing as “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.”
Maoming said while Prime Minister Gonsalves claims he does not rule out establishing diplomatic relations with China, his reluctance to end so-called “diplomatic relations” with the Taiwan authorities runs counter to the principles of international relations.
“Diplomatic relations can only be established between sovereign states. As previously mentioned, Taiwan is not a sovereign entity and, therefore, lacks the qualifications to establish diplomatic ties with any sovereign state.
“Technically, Taiwan’s status as a province is no different from that of Anhui Province of China, my home region. Would Dr. Gonsalves also consider establishing diplomatic ties with Anhui? Such a move would undoubtedly diminish his country’s stature,” the Chinese diplomat added.
He said since the adoption of UN Resolution 2758, most UN member states have respected and adopted positions consistent with this resolution.
“They recognize the one-China principle, sever “official relations” with the Taiwan authorities, and acknowledge the PRC as the only legitimate government representing China. To date, 183 countries — more than 93 percent of UN member states—have established diplomatic relations with China, underscoring that adherence to the one-China principle is a universally recognized norm and an unstoppable trend.”
The Chinese diplomat said while Prime Minister Gonsalves’ hope for peace in the Taiwan Strait is understandable and widely shared by peace-loving people worldwide, “it must be emphasized that the one-China principle is the anchor for cross-Strait peace and stability.
He said “Taiwan independence” and cross-Strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water.
“The separatists’ actions seriously undermine the international order and pose the greatest threat to cross-Strait peace. They are the most dangerous provocateurs of the status quo in the region.”
Maoming said achieving reunification through peaceful ways best serves the overall interests of the Chinese nation, including our compatriots in Taiwan, “and is our preferred approach.
“In contrast, some separatists in Taiwan label themselves as “pilots for global peace” while seeking independence by courting external support and building up military capabilities, revealing themselves to be promoters of war under masks of hypocrisy,” he said.
“I would like to reiterate that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an integral and sacred part of China’s territory. This is a historical and legal fact and a widely recognized consensus within the international community.
“Adhering to the one-China principle aligns with the global tide of justice and the prevailing trend of history. We hope relevant countries will fulfill their obligations under international law, stand on the right side of history, and make the right decisions that serve their fundamental and long-term interests at an early date. It’s never too late to make new friends. China stands ready to open up new chapters for relations with these countries based on the one-China principle,” Maoming said.
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