Foreign Ministry reiterates one-China principle as broad consensus

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday reaffirmed the broad international adherence to the one-China principle, following reports that Lai Ching-te, leader of the Taiwan authorities, canceled a planned visit to Eswatini, an inland country in southern Africa, as relevant countries revoked overflight clearance.

"All African countries, with the sole exception of Eswatini, have established diplomatic ties with China," the ministry's spokesperson said in a press release, noting that these 53 countries, together with the African Union, have adopted the Beijing Declaration at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

They have reiterated on many occasions that they firmly uphold the one-China principle: 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, the spokesperson added.

Noting those countries firmly support all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification, the spokesperson said China highly commends relevant countries' commitment to the one-China principle, which is fully consistent with international law and basic norms governing international relations.

"It's very clear that there's no longer a so-called 'Republic of China president' in the world anymore," the spokesperson said. "Anyone who wears that false title is acting against history and will only invite disgrace upon themselves."

The spokesperson emphasized the inevitability of China's reunification and said the one-China principle is where the arc of history bends and public opinion trends. No one can ever stop the eventual reunification of China.

"The separatist attempts aimed at 'Taiwan independence' are just futile and doomed to fail."