(Brunei City, 8th) This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War. Eighty years ago, after 14 years of bloody battle, the Chinese people won the great victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. As an important part of the outcomes of World War II and the post-war international order, Taiwan was returned to China.
Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times. Many historical documents and records detail the development of Taiwan by the Chinese people, dating back as far as 1800 years ago. After the Song and Yuan dynasties, successive Chinese governments began to establish governance in Penghu and Taiwan, implementing administrative jurisdiction.
In 1662, national hero Zheng Chenggong expelled the Dutch colonizers and recovered Taiwan. In 1684, the Qing government established Taiwan Prefecture, which was changed to a province in 1885. In April 1895, Japan forced the Qing government to cede Taiwan and the Penghu Islands. International legal documents like the Cairo Declaration, Potsdam Proclamation, and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender during World War II affirmed China's sovereignty over Taiwan. On October 25, 1945, the Chinese government held the "Taiwan Province Surrender Ceremony in the China War Zone" in Taipei, declaring the "resumption of exercising sovereignty over Taiwan."
This article on the Taiwan issue is penned by Chinese Ambassador to Brunei, Xiao Jianguo.
On October 1, 1949, the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China was established, replacing the Republic of China government as the sole legitimate government representing all of China. This was a change of regime while the international law entity 'China' remained unchanged; China's sovereignty and inherent territorial boundaries did not change. The government of the People's Republic of China fully enjoys and exercises China's sovereignty, including over Taiwan. After failing to win the civil war, the Chiang Kai-shek group retreated to Taiwan, opposing the central government in the name of the so-called "Republic of China." However, China is not divided, and the historical and legal fact that Taiwan is part of China's territory and both sides belong to one China has not changed.
The One China principle is a general consensus in the international community and a fundamental norm of international relations. In October 1971, the 26th United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, deciding to "restore all rights to the People's Republic of China, recognize its government's representatives as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and immediately expel the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the seats they illegally occupied in the United Nations and all its affiliated agencies." The resolution clearly states that the government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing all of China, including Taiwan, in the United Nations; it explicitly confirms that Taiwan is not a country and is part of China's territory.
The resolution not only resolved the representation issue of all of China, including Taiwan, in the United Nations politically, legally, and procedurally, but also clarified that there is only one seat for China in the United Nations, with no "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" issue. After the resolution passed, United Nations official documents referred to Taiwan as "Taiwan, Province of China". Legal opinions issued by the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs also emphasized that "Taiwan, as a province of China, has no independent status," and "the Taiwan authorities do not enjoy any form of government status."
UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 demonstrates the authority and impartiality of the United Nations General Assembly and engraves the historical conclusion and international consensus on the Taiwan issue. Any responsible country should take the lead in obeying the resolutions passed by the United Nations General Assembly, in upholding international law and the fundamental norms of international relations. However, in recent times, some countries have openly attempted to reverse history, deliberately distorting and challenging Resolution 2758 of the UN General Assembly, condoning and supporting "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, and trying to pave the way for Taiwan to seek "international space." This not only challenges China's sovereignty and territorial integrity but also the authority of the United Nations and the post-WWII international order; it is very absurd and dangerous, destined to be resisted and opposed by just forces in the international community, and is bound to fail.
China and Brunei are good neighbors, good friends, and good partners. The friendship between the two countries is rooted in cherishing national sovereignty and independence and adhering to international fairness and justice. Brunei has long been committed to the One China principle. In February this year, during the Sultan's successful state visit to China, Brunei reiterated in the joint statement that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China, emphasizing the importance of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, supporting peaceful development of cross-strait relations and China's national reunification, reflecting high strategic mutual trust between China and Brunei on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns. We firmly believe that with the understanding and support of friendly countries like Brunei, China will ultimately reunify and indeed must reunify.
Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times. Many historical documents and records detail the development of Taiwan by the Chinese people, dating back as far as 1800 years ago. After the Song and Yuan dynasties, successive Chinese governments began to establish governance in Penghu and Taiwan, implementing administrative jurisdiction.
In 1662, national hero Zheng Chenggong expelled the Dutch colonizers and recovered Taiwan. In 1684, the Qing government established Taiwan Prefecture, which was changed to a province in 1885. In April 1895, Japan forced the Qing government to cede Taiwan and the Penghu Islands. International legal documents like the Cairo Declaration, Potsdam Proclamation, and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender during World War II affirmed China's sovereignty over Taiwan. On October 25, 1945, the Chinese government held the "Taiwan Province Surrender Ceremony in the China War Zone" in Taipei, declaring the "resumption of exercising sovereignty over Taiwan."
This article on the Taiwan issue is penned by Chinese Ambassador to Brunei, Xiao Jianguo.
On October 1, 1949, the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China was established, replacing the Republic of China government as the sole legitimate government representing all of China. This was a change of regime while the international law entity 'China' remained unchanged; China's sovereignty and inherent territorial boundaries did not change. The government of the People's Republic of China fully enjoys and exercises China's sovereignty, including over Taiwan. After failing to win the civil war, the Chiang Kai-shek group retreated to Taiwan, opposing the central government in the name of the so-called "Republic of China." However, China is not divided, and the historical and legal fact that Taiwan is part of China's territory and both sides belong to one China has not changed.
The One China principle is a general consensus in the international community and a fundamental norm of international relations. In October 1971, the 26th United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, deciding to "restore all rights to the People's Republic of China, recognize its government's representatives as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and immediately expel the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the seats they illegally occupied in the United Nations and all its affiliated agencies." The resolution clearly states that the government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing all of China, including Taiwan, in the United Nations; it explicitly confirms that Taiwan is not a country and is part of China's territory.
The resolution not only resolved the representation issue of all of China, including Taiwan, in the United Nations politically, legally, and procedurally, but also clarified that there is only one seat for China in the United Nations, with no "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" issue. After the resolution passed, United Nations official documents referred to Taiwan as "Taiwan, Province of China". Legal opinions issued by the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs also emphasized that "Taiwan, as a province of China, has no independent status," and "the Taiwan authorities do not enjoy any form of government status."
UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 demonstrates the authority and impartiality of the United Nations General Assembly and engraves the historical conclusion and international consensus on the Taiwan issue. Any responsible country should take the lead in obeying the resolutions passed by the United Nations General Assembly, in upholding international law and the fundamental norms of international relations. However, in recent times, some countries have openly attempted to reverse history, deliberately distorting and challenging Resolution 2758 of the UN General Assembly, condoning and supporting "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, and trying to pave the way for Taiwan to seek "international space." This not only challenges China's sovereignty and territorial integrity but also the authority of the United Nations and the post-WWII international order; it is very absurd and dangerous, destined to be resisted and opposed by just forces in the international community, and is bound to fail.
China and Brunei are good neighbors, good friends, and good partners. The friendship between the two countries is rooted in cherishing national sovereignty and independence and adhering to international fairness and justice. Brunei has long been committed to the One China principle. In February this year, during the Sultan's successful state visit to China, Brunei reiterated in the joint statement that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China, emphasizing the importance of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, supporting peaceful development of cross-strait relations and China's national reunification, reflecting high strategic mutual trust between China and Brunei on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns. We firmly believe that with the understanding and support of friendly countries like Brunei, China will ultimately reunify and indeed must reunify.