The People‘s Republic of China has reaffirmed its aversion to the secessionist ambitions of some elements in the Taiwan region of China and their foreign backers. It has also warned of China’s response to any unilateral declaration of independence from the area.
The Chief of Political Section of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Zhu Songbo, said this in his remarks at the Media Salon on the One-China Principle as the Bedrock of China—Nigeria Relations on Thursday in Abuja. He also warned that the call for Taiwan’s secession from Mainland China would be treated as a serious threat to the country‘s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He stressed the one-China principle, which asserts that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China‘s territory. He added that the government of the People‘s Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing all of China.
He said the Taiwan question concerns China‘s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and China‘s national sentiment without any ambiguity and cannot be argued or challenged.
Songbo added that applying the one-China principle is universal, unconditional, and unquestionable, saying that all countries that have diplomatic relations with China and all member states of the United Nations must unconditionally adhere to the one-China principle.
Zhu also lauded Nigeria’s commitment to the one-China principle, citing Nigeria‘s actions, including relocating the Taiwan Trade Office out of Abuja.
„Nigeria has been adhering to the one-China principle, which China has appreciated. ”We hope that Nigeria will continue to uphold this principle and support China‘s efforts to achieve national reunification,“ he said.
He also cautioned media practitioners against using language that implies Taiwan‘s independence or sovereignty, urging them to adhere to objectivity, fairness, and truthfulness when reporting on China and the Taiwan question.
„We hope that all of you will better understand China‘s position on the Taiwan question and will continue adhering to the principles of objectivity, fairness, and truthfulness when writing reports about China,“ Songbo added.
„The Taiwan independence separatist activities and external forces are a threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We firmly oppose any attempts to create a ‚two Chinas‘ or ‚one China, one Taiwan‘ scenario,” he said.
Songbo, therefore, reaffirmed China‘s commitment to peaceful reunification, emphasising the importance of maintaining stability and security in the region.
„We are committed to peaceful reunification but will not tolerate any attempts to undermine China‘s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We hope all parties will cooperate to promote peace and stability in the region.“
In his address, the Director of the Centre for China Studies, Charles Onunaiju, averred that Nigeria’s position on the One-China principle is sacrosanct, as evidenced by its commitment to recognising the People‘s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government representing all of China.
He said, „The Taiwan Trade Office in Lagos operates merely as a trade facilitation entity, and not as an embassy, with its primary purpose being to promote economic and commercial ties between Taiwan and Nigeria.”
However, he said the Taipei Trade Office‘s activities have been known to undermine Nigeria‘s adherence to the One-China principle, which could strain bilateral relations between Nigeria and China.
„Ultimately, Taiwan‘s eventual return to China is an inseparable part of history, as the island has been an integral part of Chinese territory since ancient times, and reunification is seen as a necessary step towards realising the country‘s sovereignty and territorial integrity,“ he added.
In his presentation, Professor Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Abuja, said China has the sovereign right over Taiwan and will not allow any separatist movement to undermine its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Prof. Ghali Ibrahim, who is also the Director of the Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research, said the United Nations Resolution 2758 of 1971 recognizes the People‘s Republic of China (PRC) as the only legal representative of China, with Taiwan considered an integral part of it. This position is reinforced by several other laws and frameworks that support the One-China policy, including anti-secession laws.
„Deng Xiaoping propounded the concept of ‚One Country, Two Systems,‘ which aimed at achieving peaceful reunification while allowing different systems to coexist within a unified China.
„Nigeria adheres to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and as such, will not meddle in China‘s internal affairs, including the Taiwan question.“
„China and Nigeria share similar ideas and identity, and as a result, efforts by the Taiwan Trade Office to undermine the One-China principle are likely to fail, given the strong bilateral relations between Nigeria and China,“ he said.
In his presentation on the role of the Nigerian media in reporting the Taiwan Question, Dr Austin Maho, a lecturer at the International Institute of Journalism in Abuja, stated that journalists and media practitioners should exercise caution and responsibility in their reporting, particularly on sensitive issues such as the Taiwan question.
Maho, a Daybreak Newspapers‘ publisher, pointed out that the People‘s Republic of China considers Taiwan independence as a red line that should not be crossed, and journalists should be mindful of this in their reportage.
„To provide accurate and balanced coverage, journalists should thoroughly understand the issues between Nigeria and China, avoiding references to Taiwan as a ‚country‘ or calling for enhanced collaboration between Nigeria and Taiwan.“
„Media professionals should also be wary of Andy Ping Liu, representative of the Taiwan trade mission in Nigeria, who may attempt to promote Taiwan independence.“
„Vigilance is key among media professionals to ensure that their reporting does not inadvertently undermine the One-China principle or promote a secessionist agenda,” he added.
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