On February 13, 2024, the Taipei Trade Office in Fiji published erroneous remarks on its website that violated the one-China principle, distorting the facts about the Taiwan question and confusing right and wrong. The spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Fiji denounces this and hereby reiterates the following points, so as to set the record straight.

--Taiwan has never been a country, but an inalienable part of China’s territory. In 1895, Japan forcibly occupied China’s Taiwan region through the War of Aggression against China and ruled it until World War II. The Cairo Declaration issued by the governments of China, the United States and Great Britain in December 1943 stated that all territories Japan had stolen from the Chinese, such as Manchuria, Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, shall be restored to China. This provision was confirmed and reiterated in the Potsdam Proclamation issued in July 1945. After Japan’s surrender on October 25 of the same year, the Chinese government resumed 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. Taiwan’s return to China is also an important component of the post-WWII international order. Not long after the victory of the WWII, the civil war broke out in China. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people overthrew the government of the Republic of China, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) was founded and the Government of the PRC became the only legitimate government representing the whole of China. As a result of the civil war and the interference of external forces, the two sides of the Taiwan Straits have fallen into a state of protracted political confrontation, but Taiwan's status as part of China's territory has never changed.

--Taiwan’s belonging to China is not only a historical fact, but also recognized by the international community. In 1971, the 26th session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, which undertook “to restore all its rights of 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 the Taiwan authorities “from the place which they unlawfully occupy”. 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”. It was clearly stated in the official legal opinions of the Legal Affairs Office of the UN Secretariat that “the United Nations considers ‘Taiwan’ as a province of China with no separate status”, and the “ ‘authorities’ in ‘Taipei’ are not considered to... enjoy any form of government status”. In the UN, the Taiwan island is referred to as “Taiwan, Province of China”. On the basis of the one-China principle, 183 countries have established diplomatic relations with China, which proves that the one-China principle is part of the well-recognized norms governing international relations and a consensus shared by the international community.

--The Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair. The important principles of respecting state sovereignty and territorial integrity as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations are the cornerstones of modern international law and basic norms of international relations. It is the sacred right of every sovereign state to safeguard national unity and territorial integrity. It goes without saying that the Chinese government is entitled to take all measures necessary to settle the Taiwan question and achieve national reunification, free of external interference. The status quo of the Taiwan Strait is that both sides of the strait belong to one and the same China, Taiwan is part of China, and neither China’s sovereignty nor its territorial integrity is ever divided. To violate and challenge the one-China principle is to change the status quo of the Taiwan Strait. “Taiwan independence” and cross-Strait peace and stability are as irreconcilable as fire and water. To keep the Taiwan Strait peaceful and stable, it is essential to unequivocally uphold the one-China principle and oppose “Taiwan independence” and foreign interference. Those who talk about peace in the Taiwan Strait but refuse to oppose “Taiwan independence” are in effect conniving at and supporting separatist activities, which is bound to have a serious impact on cross-Strait peace and stability.

--Peaceful reunification and One Country, Two Systems are basic principles of the Chinese government for resolving the Taiwan question and the best approach to realizing national reunification, which take full account of Taiwan’s realities and are conducive to long-term stability in Taiwan after reunification. 

The Taiwan question is not about democracy, but about China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The difference in systems across the Strait is not a barrier to reunification or an excuse for division. Peaceful reunification and One Country, Two Systems takes Taiwan’s realities into full account and helps Taiwan achieve longstanding peace and stability after reunification. It is the basic principle for resolving the Taiwan question and the best way to realize national reunification. 

National reunification by peaceful means is the first choice of the CPC and the Chinese government in resolving the Taiwan question. Despite the difficulties and obstacles we have encountered for decades, we will continue to work with the greatest sincerity and exert our utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification. However, should “Taiwan independence” separatists provoke or force us, or even cross the red line, we will be compelled to take resolute measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.  

--A change in the M503 air route is in line with the common interests of compatriots on both the mainland and Taiwan, aiming to ease traffic congestion and ensure aviation safety. The change will also help improve the operation of cross-Strait flights and better serve personnel travel between the two sides of the Strait.

The M503 route is a civil aviation route. The opening and operation of the route are just normal work in the mainland's civil aviation air space management, and there is no need to consult with the Taiwan side in this regard.

--The results of the elections reveal that the Democratic Progressive Party cannot represent the mainstream public opinion on the island. The elections will not change the basic landscape and development trend of cross-Strait relations, will not alter the shared aspiration of compatriots across the Taiwan Strait to forge closer ties, and will not impede the inevitable trend of China's reunification. Our stance on resolving the Taiwan question and realizing national reunification remains consistent, and our determination is as firm as rock. We will adhere to the 1992 Consensus that embodies the one-China principle and firmly oppose the separatist activities aimed at “Taiwan independence” as well as foreign interference. The mainland will work with relevant political parties, groups and people from various sectors in Taiwan to boost cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, enhance cross-Strait integrated development, jointly promote Chinese culture, and advance the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations as well as the cause of national reunification.

--Taipei Trade Office in Fiji (TTO) is in no position to engage in any political activities with sovereign implications and official nature. TTO has no right to act or speak as a diplomatic mission. Under the pretext of promoting economic and trade cooperation between China’s Taiwan Region and Fiji, TTO has repeatedly made statements on behalf of the Taiwan authorities and disseminated “Taiwan independence” erroneous remarks. This has proved that the TTO is not an organization simply for trade activities, but more as a mouthpiece and tool for “Taiwan independence” separatist forces to hype up their so-called “presence” in the region. China highly appreciates Fiji’s longstanding commitment to the one-China principle. We believe that the Fijian government and Fijian people would show their wisdom and would never be poisoned or taken in by such absurd remarks.

In the end, the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Fiji would like to advise the compatriots in TTO that the Fijian people welcome sincere cooperation and have no interest in political manipulation. Please focus on your main business and do more good things that benefit Fiji's economic development and people's livelihood.