'Israel should respect One China,' Chinese embassy tells 'Post'

The embassy hosted a three-hour meeting on the “Taiwan Question,” marking the first time the embassy has hosted such an event, addressing such an internationally contentious topic.

The overarching message was that Taiwan is part of China, and never has been or can be an independent state in the view of the PRC. Any international moves to recognize Taiwan are to be viewed as a “red line” by China, and such efforts on Israel’s part could have deleterious consequences for bilateral diplomatic relations.

According to the embassy, the briefing was organized to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the “victory of the Chinese people’s war of resistance against Japanese aggression, as well as the 80th anniversary of the recovery of Taiwan.”

The One China principle is the official position of the PRC in relation to the political status of Taiwan. The official statement is: “There is only one China in the world. Taiwan 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.” As part of the One China principle, the PRC continually seeks reunification of Taiwan with China and takes a hardline stance on any separatist groups.

The embassy began by explaining that the Taiwan question is “complicated,” comparing it to the Israeli-Palestinian question. It stressed that Taiwan was once occupied by Japan – until the end of WWII. Two important documents were highlighted from this time period: one, the Cairo Declaration of 1943, which said that all territories taken by Japan from China should be restored to China; and the Potsdam Declaration of 1945, which laid out the expectation of Japan’s complete withdrawal from Chinese territories.

From October 1945, the Chinese government began officially exercising sovereignty over Taiwan, and in 1949, the People’s Republic of China was established in Beijing, and it remains today. Leader of the Chinese nationalists Chiang Kai-shek fled to the island with his followers in 1949 and established a nationalist government, known as the Republic of China (Taiwan).

However, China has yet to achieve full reunification, with the Taiwanese government choosing to remain separate. The embassy told The Jerusalem Post that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) entering power in Taiwan with its “separatist agenda” is the barrier to reunification and something that the “central government cannot tolerate.”

Much of the basis for the embassy’s case on Taiwan is the UNGA Resolution 2758, adopted on October 26, 1971. This recognizes that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the only lawful representative of China to the United Nations.

“Since the adoption of this resolution, the international community has maintained a clear and consistent stance,” the embassy explained. “There is no such thing as two Chinas or one China, one Taiwan. No, just as UNGA Resolution 181 laid the foundation for the creation of the State of Israel, Resolution 2758 resolved once and for all the question of China’s representation in the UN.

“Since the adoption of this resolution, the island has been referred to as Taiwan, Province of China, in all UN official documents. It is clearly stated in the official legal opinions of the Office of Legal Affairs 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.”

The embassy also pointed out that 183 countries have diplomatic relations with China, and that such relations were contingent on the acceptance of the One China principle.

“This shows that the One China principle is a basic norm of international relations and the overwhelming consensus of the global community,” the embassy added.

However, while for decades the embassy said Resolution 2758 has not caused any controversy in international relations, in recent years, “certain countries have attempted to challenge this resolution, the root causes of which lie in the push for Taiwan independence and the distortion, even denial of history.

“Denying the authority of Resolution 2758 is no different from justifying fascism, whitewashing Nazi crimes, or denying the Holocaust,” the embassy added.

The embassy then presented several narratives around Taiwan, namely: “Taiwan’s international status remains undetermined”; “maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait”; and “Taiwan’s right to participate in international organizations.”

According to the embassy, some parties, including the DPP authorities in Taiwan, argue that UNGA Resolution 2758 does not contain any mention of Taiwan, and therefore that the resolution has nothing to do with Taiwan. The embassy disputed this, saying that the resolution was not designed to serve as the legal basis of Taiwan’s status, and that from the day the People’s Republic of China was founded, “Taiwan as a so-called ‘sovereign entity’ is unlawful, so we do not recognize it.” Using the word Taiwan, the embassy continued, does “not alter the substance of the resolution.”

In fact, the embassy argued that the resolution “entirely precluded” any possibility of creating two Chinas, or one China, one Taiwan.

Additionally, the embassy argued that the notion of Taiwan’s status being undetermined is a narrative pushed by the US to remain in relations with both Taiwan and China.

The second fallacy, according to the embassy, is that the status quo in Taiwan should be maintained.

“From our explanation before, I think it is easy to see that the true status quo is that both sides of the Taiwan Strait undoubtedly belong to one China,” the embassy said. “Those who are undermining and challenging this status quo are precisely the DPP authorities and certain external forces that are constantly distorting the One China principle.

“Peace and cross-strait relations can achieve peaceful development. However, when the One China principle is challenged or even undermined, the strait will be shrouded in dark clouds and even experience storms.”

Among other things, supporting Taiwan independence is to “interfere in China’s internal affairs and to undermine the stability of the Taiwan Strait.

“If anyone or any country truly concerns the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and international security and prosperity, it should oppose Taiwan independence in any form and support the Chinese government’s efforts to realize national reunification.”

The embassy said the PRC will work with the “greatest sincerity to achieve peaceful reunification” but that it will “not renounce the use of force and reserves the option of taking all measures to guard against external interference and all separatist activities.”

The use of force would be the last resort taken under compelling circumstances, the embassy continued, and “in no way targets our fellow Chinese in Taiwan.”

The embassy emphasized that any Taiwanese involvement in international organizations should be handled in accordance with the One China principle. For example, it permits medical or health experts from Taiwan to participate in WHO meetings or to exchange information, but it will not allow its inclusion as an independent entity.

However, the embassy argued that the DPP “has undermined the very political foundation for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations by repeatedly using the issue of public health, aviation security and multilateral cooperation as pretexts [for what is] actually aiming at the so-called expanding of Taiwan’s international space, the seeking of diplomatic breakthroughs and their intention for two Chinas, or One China, one Taiwan.”

On China-Israel relations, the embassy noted that Israel was the first country in the Middle East to recognize the People’s Republic of China after the end of the Cold War and that the two have enjoyed diplomatic relations since 1992. The two have also had an innovation partnership since 2017.

The basis for this relationship, however, is the One China principle, the embassy stressed.

“The Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affairs. We believe that it should not become an obstacle to the development of China-Israel relations.”

However, the embassy accused certain members of Knesset of “playing with fire” by taking the lead in supporting Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and making remarks regarding the Taiwan question. “They have violated the One China principle,” the embassy added. “China strongly opposes official interaction of any form between China’s Taiwan region and countries having diplomatic relations with China, including Israel.”

In its statement, the embassy accused Toporovsky of “repeatedly” violating Israel’s One China policy, called him a “troublemaker” for bilateral ties, and said he should “not delude himself that he can harm China’s core interests... without paying a price.”

Toporovsky chairs the Israel-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, a delegation of which met Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on September 16 and presented a joint declaration signed by 72 MKs calling to integrate Taiwan into international forums.

Asked to address the threat on Wednesday, the embassy said it is a “popular Chinese saying” and “not a personal threat.” However, it stressed that by visiting Taiwan as an Israeli politician, he “crossed the red line,” marking a “serious violation of One China policy.”

The embassy also condemned the creation of the Taiwan Economic and Culture Office, which it says is not “an official entity, not an embassy, and the so-called ‘representative’ is not an ambassador.”

The Taiwan office’s attempts to participate in Israeli activities are an attempt to “mislead the Israeli public, spread lies and fallacies regarding Taiwan, and smear the Chinese mainland.

“We hope that our Israeli friends can see through the sinister intention of the Taiwan independent separatist process to undermine China-Israeli cooperation.”

If Israel were to recognize Taiwan, it would irreparably ruin the relationship with China, the embassy warned.

“We are confident this will not happen. But, in case someone intentionally crosses the red line of China and makes Taiwan a sovereign state, we cannot give up any option to such kind of behavior.”