By H.E. Mr. Tan Jian, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of the Netherlands
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations. On August 15, the Netherlands commemorated National Remembrance in the Hague. China and the Netherlands fought alongside each other in the Asian theatre in WWII.
This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and restoration of Taiwan from Japanese occupation. Taiwan’s restoration to China is a victorious outcome of WWII and an integral part of the postwar international order.
Recently, Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, for the purpose of seeking “independence”, have deliberately distorted and challenged One-China principle and UNGA Resolution 2758 by publishing article in Dutch media. In view of this, I would like to share some facts and elaborate on China’s position:
In 1943, China, the United States, and the United Kingdom issued the Cairo Declaration, which explicitly stipulated that Taiwan, stolen by Japan, should be restored to China. In July 1945, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union issued the Potsdam Proclamation, in which reaffirms that the terms of the Cairo Declaration must be carried out. In August 1945, Japan accepted the Potsdam Proclamation and announced its unconditional surrender. In September, Japan signed the Instrument of Surrender, committing to “faithfully fulfill the obligations laid down in the Potsdam Proclamation”. In October, 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 1971, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, which undertook “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 which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it”. The Netherlands was among the countries that voted in favor.
This resolution settled once and for all the political, legal and procedural issues of China’s representation in the UN, and it covered the whole country, including Taiwan. It also spelled out that China has one single seat in the UN, so there is no such thing as “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan”.
Resolution 2758 is a political document encapsulating the One-China principle whose legal authority leaves no room for doubt and has been acknowledged worldwide. Taiwan does not have any ground, reason, or right to join the UN, or any other international organization whose membership is confined to sovereign states, including World Health Organization, International Civil Aviation Organization etc.
The One-China principle represents the universal consensus of the international community. It constitutes a very basic norm of international relations. There is but one China, and Taiwan is part of China. This is an indisputable fact supported by history, the law and international community. Taiwan has never been a state, its status as part of China is unalterable. Any attempt to distort these facts and dispute or deny the One-China principle will end in failure.
