On January 13th, 2024, the leadership and legislature elections of China’s Taiwan region were held. Since many people pay attention to the election, I would like to share some observations.

    Please allow me to briefly introduce the history of Taiwan. Taiwan has belonged to China since 1800 years ago. This statement has a sound basis in history and jurisprudence. Although the former Chinese government was forced to cede Taiwan to Japan after its aggression against China in late 19th century, the Cairo Declaration issued by China, the US and the UK 80 years ago stipulates clearly that all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Taiwan, shall be restored to China. Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation jointly published by China, the US, the UK and the Soviet Union in 1945 stipulates that the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out. Although the two sides across the Taiwan Strait have yet to be reunified, the sovereignty and territory of China has never been severed and the legal status and fact that Taiwan is part of China's territory has never changed. This is the real status quo of the Taiwan question. China will achieve national reunification and Taiwan will inevitably return to the embrace of the motherland.

    Resolution 2758 of the UN General Assembly, which was passed in 1971, affirmed that 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. This resolution is a political document encapsulating the one-China principle whose legal authority leaves no room for doubt, and it has become a prevailing consensus among the international community. Therefore, despite some forces endeavor to hype up the Taiwan question, the fact that Taiwan is China's Taiwan cannot be wavered. It is crystal-clear that the external forces intends to badmouth China under the pretext of "democracy" which is defined by themselves. However, the Taiwan question is about China's sovereignty and unity, but not democracy. Those countries are using Taiwan as a pawn to undermine China's development and progress, and obstruct the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. They are doing so at the cost of the interests, well-being and future of the people of Taiwan rather than for their benefit.

    In this connection, whatever changes take place in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change, and the Chinese government's position of upholding the one-China principle and opposing "Taiwan independence" separatism, "two Chinas" and "one China, one Taiwan" will not change. The election results reveal that the Democratic Progressive Party, which sticks to the "Taiwan independence" separatism, 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. China's stance on resolving the Taiwan question and realizing national reunification remains consistent, and its determination is as firm as rock.

    The one-China principle is the political foundation of the diplomatic relations between China and any other countries in the world. Up till the end of 2023, China has diplomatic relations with 182 countries on the basis of the one-China principle. On January 15, 2024, just two days after the election in Taiwan was held, the Republic of Nauru, a member of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS), officially announced its decision to recognize the one-China principle, break the so-called "diplomatic ties" with the Taiwan authorities and seek to reestablish diplomatic ties with China--this decision once again shows that the one-China principle is where global opinion trends and where the arc of history bends.  

    Peaceful reunification and One Country, Two Systems are China's basic principles for resolving the Taiwan question and the best approach to realizing national reunification. The peaceful cross-Straits reunification is of benefit not only to the Chinese nation, but to all peoples and the international community as a whole. It will bring more development opportunities to all countries; it will create more positive momentum for prosperity and stability in the Asia-Pacific and the rest of the world; it will contribute more to building a global community of shared future, promoting world peace and development, and propelling human progress. China appreciates that both the NDC-led Grenadian Government and the NNP issued statements to reaffirm their commitment to the one-China principle last week, which demonstrated the strong political mutual trust between our two countries. In this regard, China stands ready to work with all countries, including Grenada, to jointly safeguard the one-China principle.