Recently, the United States announced its large-scale arms sales to China’s Taiwan region. This seriously interferes in China’s internal affairs, undermines China’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, disrupts peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and sends a seriously wrong message to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and others. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this.
A Breach of Faith: US Actions Seriously Trample on Legal Foundations and Commitments
The Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests, and is the first red line in China-US relations that must not be crossed.
On 25 October 1971, at the 26th session of the UN General Assembly, Resolution 2758 was adopted with an overwhelming majority, which “decides to restore all its rights to the People’s Republic of China and to recognise 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 where they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organisations related to it”.
The resolution resolved once and for all the question of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the UN, as a political, legal and procedural issue. There is but one China in the world. The Taiwan region is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.
In order to resolve the issue of US arms sales to Taiwan, the Chinese and the US governments negotiated and reached an agreement on 17 August 1982. A communiqué bearing the same date became the third joint communiqué governing Sino-US relations.
In that communiqué the US government stated that “It does not seek to carry out a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan, that its arms sales to Taiwan will not exceed, either in qualitative or in quantitative terms, the level of those supplied in recent years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China and that it intends gradually to reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan, leading, over a period of time, to a final resolution.”
Yet the US government has not only failed to implement the communiqué in earnest, but has repeatedly contravened it. Such an extremely erroneous move by the US to renege on its own commitments and instigate confrontation across the Strait severely violates the one-China principle and the three Sino-US joint communiqués.
This move severely undermines China’s sovereignty and security interests, and seriously undermines China-US strategic mutual trust. It is highly irresponsible, extremely dangerous and profoundly detrimental.
Malicious Intent Exposed: Arms Sales Are About Fanning the Flames, Containing China and Seeking Profits
The international community sees clearly the ulterior motives behind the US large-scale arms sales to Taiwan.
Politically, the largest arms sale fabricates a narrative of looming conflict and the so-called security commitments, seeking to stoke “fear of the Chinese mainland and resistance to reunification” on the island and to embolden “Taiwan independence” separatist forces in making provocations.
Economically, the carefully engineered arms package is designed to hollow out Taiwan financially and feed the voracious appetite of the US military-industrial complex. Militarily, it aims to inject large quantities of offensive equipment into the Taiwan troops, turning the island into a “powder keg” and “porcupine” in an attempt to maximise the cost for China to achieve complete reunification.
In reality, the real threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the separatist activities of the Lai Ching-te authorities and external interference.
The so-called “assistance in response to threat” to Taiwan will only embolden “Taiwan independence” separatists, put the people in Taiwan on a “powder keg”, push the Taiwan Strait towards danger, and inevitably increase the risk of China-US conflict and confrontation.
In response to the latest US announcement of large-scale arms sales to China’s Taiwan region, China has decided to take countermeasures in accordance with the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Countering Foreign Sanctions against 20 US military-related companies and 10 senior executives who have engaged in arming Taiwan in recent years. These measures are legitimate, justified and necessary.
They demonstrate China’s firm resolve to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests, and constitute a stern warning to those who made the provocations.
China solemnly warns the US side and the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces that no matter how many advanced weapons are sold to Taiwan, this will not reverse the inevitability towards China’s reunification. Attempts by “Taiwan independence” separatist forces to seek independence by force will only end in self-destruction. Repeated US breaches of commitments and its support for “Taiwan independence” will ultimately backfire.
Shared Commitment: Upholding National Sovereignty and International Peace and Security
China and Bangladesh are neighbours sharing a long-standing friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partners.
Fifty years ago, the two countries established diplomatic relations on the basis of the one-China principle. Over the past five decades, Bangladesh has firmly adhered to the one-China principle.
In March this year, Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus paid a historic visit to China.
The Bangladesh side reaffirmed its firm commitment to the one-China principle, recognising that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and acknowledged that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.
Bangladesh opposes “Taiwan independence” and supports China’s efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. China highly commends this position.
We believe that the just cause of the Chinese people in opposing “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and external interference and striving for national reunification will gain ever broader understanding and support.
China firmly supports Bangladesh in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions.
Looking ahead, China stands ready to work with Bangladesh to continue supporting each other in safeguarding core interests, firmly uphold international fairness and justice, promote the building of a China–Bangladesh community with a shared future, and deliver greater benefits to both countries and their peoples.
Writer: Yao Wen. He is the Ambassador of China to Bangladesh
