In response to the recent clamoring by the Taiwan authorities for so-called participation in the United Nations and their distortion of UNGA Resolution 2758, Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the UN, made a statement clarifying China’s solemn position. The full text is as follows.

Recently, the Taiwan authorities, in collusion with some external forces, again clamored for so-called Taiwan’s participation in the UN and asked to reinterpret UNGA Resolution 2758. This is yet another political farce staged by separatist forces for “Taiwan independence” and some anti-China forces news-jacking the incoming 78th session of the UN General Assembly. It is essentially political manipulation under the disguise of Taiwan’s so-called international participation, only to serve the election campaign of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the strategy by some external forces to use Taiwan to contain China.

The so-called Taiwan’s participation in the UN is a false narrative through and through. First, there is but one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole lawful Government of China. The UN is an inter-governmental organization composed of sovereign states. As a province of China, Taiwan has no basis, reason, or right whatsoever to participate in the UN and its relevant agencies. The principle of sovereignty is stipulated in the UN Charter, and all member states must follow it and abide by as an obligation. Such a matter of principle leaves no room for ambiguity.

Second, upholding the one-China principle, the Government of the People’s Republic of China previously made proper arrangements for the Taiwan region’s participation in the World Health Assembly and the International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly. However, the DPP authorities have been stubbornly pushing for “Taiwan independence” and refused to accept the 1992 Consensus, thus erasing the political foundation for such arrangements. The responsibility lies solely with the DPP authorities. If they really care about the well-being of the people in Taiwan, they should earnestly return to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus.

Third, the one-China principle is a general consensus of the international community and is consistent with the basic norms of international relations. At present, 182 countries around the world have established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China based on the one-China principle. By clamoring for so-called Taiwan’s participation in the UN, the DPP authorities and some external forces are seeking to create “one China, one Taiwan” or “two Chinas”. This is a blatant violation of the basic norms of international relations, and a blatant violation of the international order centered upon the UN and underpinned by international law. Such attempts are doomed to fail.

UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 adopted in 1971 brought a fundamental solution to the issue concerning China’s representation in the Organization. The resolution made it clear that the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to the United Nations, and made it clear to expel the “representatives” of the Taiwan authorities from the place which they had unlawfully occupied. The adoption of the resolution has made the so-called dual representation proposal put forth by the United States and a few other countries to keep Taiwan’s seat in the UN nothing but a piece of waste paper. Ever since then, the issue of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the UN has been resolved politically, legally and procedurally once and for all. Ever since then, the UN’s position on this issue has been crystal-clear and consistent, always upholding the one-China principle and always abiding by UNGA Resolution 2758. The DPP authorities and some external forces, in order to serve their own political agendas, disregard the fact and law that Taiwan is a part of China, and try every means to distort UNGA Resolution 2758. In muddying the waters, they are not only deceiving others, but also deluding themselves.

To them, let me make this clear: UNGA Resolution 2758 is not to be misinterpreted, and the one-China principle is not to be infringed upon. Whatever excuses used, the so-called Taiwan’s participation in the UN will not succeed. Whatever tricks employed, seeking foreign support to gain independence is a dead end, and the scheme to use Taiwan to contain China is doomed to fail. We will continue to uphold the basic principles of peaceful reunification and One Country, Two Systems, work for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, and resolutely thwart attempts of “Taiwan independence” and external interference. We believe the just cause of the Chinese Government and people in safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, opposing “Taiwan independence”, and achieving national reunification will continue to win the understanding and support of the UN and its wide membership.