On August 13,2022, Chinese Ambassador to India H.E. Sun Weidong held a round-table briefing on Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region. Journalists from Hindustan Times, The Times of India, The Indian Express, The Hindu, The Press Trust of India (PTI), Asian News International(ANI), India Writes, Xinhua News Agency andChina Media Group（CMG） attended the briefing.
Ambassador Sun delivered remarks at the briefing. The full text is as follows:
I am very glad to meet with our media friends and welcome to the Chinese Embassy. This is a good chance for us to interact face to face. It is hoped that the interaction can help all of you to have a comprehensive and accurate understanding on the Taiwan question and China's policy on it.
As known for all, the recent situation was raised by Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region, which is supported by the American government in disregard of China's strong opposition and serious representations. This is a dangerous political provocation, which seriously infringed on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, violated the one-China principle and provisions in the three China-US joint communiqués, and undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. It sent a very wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and the Chinese people expressed strong indignation. It is only natural that China makes a firm response. We are safeguarding our own sovereignty and territorial integrity which is lawful, legitimate and justified. The context and events are crystal-clear, and the responsibility is fully on the American side and “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. Our actions against Pelosi's visit to Taiwan is not only safeguarding our own sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also upholding the international law and the basic norms governing international relations, particularly non-interference in countries' internal affairs, which is the most important international norm enshrined in the UN Charter.
Ladies and gentlemen, let me take this chance to emphasize three points:
First, The visit is just a political farce. The US is the culprit of the crisis. The US disregards China's strong opposition and serious representations at various levels, went ahead arranging Speaker Pelosi to pay the so-called “visit” to China's Taiwan region. It is elevating its substantive relations with Taiwan. In 1979, the US made a clear commitment in the Sino-US Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations that it recognizes the Government of People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China and acknowledges Taiwan is part of China. We can see that the one-China principle is the pretext and basis for China and the US to develop diplomatic relations. However, in recent years, we can see that the US has claimed it is committed to the one-China policy, but action-wise, it has been backtracking. The US has inserted into its characterization of the one-China policy the so-called “Taiwan Relations Act” and the “Six assurances”, which were unilaterally concocted and have never been recognized and have been firmly opposed to by China. It has also constantly elevated its substantive relations with Taiwan region, colluded with the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, has steadily increased arms sales to Taiwan, helped the latter develop so-called “asymmetric capabilities”, and encouraged Taiwan preventing reunification by force. The US assembles its allies to send military aircraft and warships to come to the adjacent waters of China, flexing muscles and stirring up troubles. They conduct up to a hundred military exercises each year. Who is stirring up the trouble and who is escalating the situation? Everybody has clear judgement.
We must be vigilant that the US, unwilling to accept defeat, might gang up with others to fan the flames and add oil to the fire, beef up military deployment in the region and further escalate the situation in an attempt to create a new and even bigger crisis. We urge the US side to examine themselves honestly, stop such behaviours immediately, stop confounding black and white, stop creating rumors to mislead the masses, stop meddling in Taiwan affairs and China's domestic affairs, stop supporting or conniving at “Taiwan independence” separatist forces in any form. The US should return to the right track of the one-China principle and the three joint communiqués at an early date.
Second, Taiwan belongs to China since ancient times, and has never been a country. Both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China. This has been the status quo of Taiwan since ancient times. I would like to make a brief introduction of Taiwan question. In 1895, Japan forced the Qing government to cede Taiwan after Japan's war of aggression against China. In 1943, the Cairo Declaration clearly stipulated that all the territories Japan had stolen from China, including Taiwan, should be restored to China. The Potsdam Proclamation of 1945 reiterated that the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out. In 1945, the Chinese government announced that it was resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan and China had recovered Taiwan de jure and de facto. In 1949, the People's Republic of China was founded, becoming the successor to the Republic of China, and the Central People's Government became the sole legal government of the whole of China. The new government replaced the previous KMT regime in a situation where China, as a subject of international law, did not change and China's sovereignty and territory did not change. The two sides of the Taiwan Strait have fallen into a state of protracted political confrontation. But the sovereignty and territory of China have never been divided and will never be divided, and Taiwan's status as part of China's territory has never changed and will never be allowed to change.
It is not China but the US and “Taiwan independence” separatist forces who change the status quo across the Strait. In the past years, the DPP authorities in Taiwan have tried to seek the American support for independence, refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus. They pushed forward the “incremental independence”, promoted “de-sinicization”, deceived the people of Taiwan and incited hostility against the mainland. They have tried to collude with external forces and sowed the seeds of “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan” on different occasions. These actions seeking the so-called “Taiwan independence” cause the tension across the Strait and jeopardize peace and stability in this region. Facing such flagrant separatist actions, which country can tolerate that? Which country can let the separatist forces do what they want?
Taiwan question is the core of China's core interests. The position of the Chinese Government and people on the Taiwan question has been consistent. To realize the complete reunification of the motherland is the common aspiration and sacred obligation of all Chinese people. The Chinese people will decide our own affairs. We strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and efforts, but we will not renounce the use of force and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures.These measures are against those external forces' interference, and against separatist actions of the few “Taiwan independence” forces. We warn the DPP authorities in Taiwan that attempts to reject reunification and split the country are doomed, because they will founder against the history and culture of the Chinese nation as well as the resolve and commitment of more than 1.4 billion Chinese people. They should not misjudge the situation and overestimate their abilities, and should stop going even further down the path of splitting the country and the nation, stop plunging Taiwan into the abyss that brings nothing but disaster to the compatriots in Taiwan.
Thirdly, facing the reckless moves of the US side and the Taiwan DPP authorities, the Chinese side has no choice but to fight back. We announced sanctions on Pelosi and her immediate family members and conducted military exercises. These are aimed at sending a warning to the ones who caused the crisis and those who violated our rights. These are also practical actions to uphold the international law and the basic norms governing international relations, particularly non-interference in countries' internal affairs, which is the most important international norm enshrined in the UN Charter. The measures taken by the Chinese side are justified, proportionate, open and transparent. It is entirely within China's sovereignty and in line with China's domestic law, international law and established international practices. The socalled “overreaction” used by the US is completely confounding black and white, which cannot change the fact that the US is the biggest destroyer of regional peace, the biggest troublemaker of regional stability and the biggest threat to regional development.
An unjust cause finds little support. The typical U.S. playbook is to create a problem first, and then use that problem to achieve its own objective. It is a typical example of deflecting the blame. Since the end of the Second World War, the US has stoked hundreds of armed conflicts, leading to political turmoils, innocent people's tragedies and sufferings in many countries. Tens of thousands of people have died because of that, while millions of people got displaced from home. Can we just let the US unscrupulously push forward hegemony? Can we just endure that the US bullies other countries with its so-called “a position of strength”? If the Chinese side doesn't firmly resist Pelosi's visit to Taiwan region, they will double down and continuously pursue the dangerous path，and damage the regional peace and stability at last. The attempt of challenging the one-China principle is indeed challenging the international order after the Second World War, challenging the common consensus of international community, challenging the principles of international laws and basic norms in international relations. If the US is allowed to do what it wants, the UN Charter will be just a sheet of paper, and the law of the jungle will prevail, which will make the developing countries, especially small and medium-sized countries to suffer.
A just cause rallies abundant support. The majority of the international community have expressed understanding and support to China. More than 170 countries and many international organizations have reiterated their commitment to the one-China principle, which is the overwhelming international consensus. Many parties around the world also have spoke and supported China as well. The Chinese people are not to be misled by fallacies or scared by evils. China will not hesitate to fight back each time the US makes a serious provocation that violates China's sovereignty and interferes in China's internal affairs. We will never allow our sovereignty and territorial integrity to be trampled and sabotaged. We urge some political figures of certain countries not to ignore right and wrong, or jump on the bandwagon of hyping up the matter. They should not attempt to copy this political stunt to serve their political self-interests, should not attempt to play the so-called “Taiwan card”, or to embolden the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.
The Taiwan question arose when the country was weak and chaotic at the time, and will surely end with national rejuvenation. Embarking on a new journey in a new era, the CPC and the Chinese government will continue to rally compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, and lead the efforts to answer the call of the times, shoulder historic responsibilities, grasp our fate and future in our own hands, and work hard to achieve national reunification and rejuvenation.
China and India are important neighbors to each other. The two peoples sympathized with and helped each other cordially in the process of fighting for national independence and liberation. On the occasion to celebrate 75th anniversary of India's Independence, I would like to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and those sages and leaders of India for their contributions and endless efforts to seek for independence. After the founding of the People's Republic of China and India's Independence, both countries adhere to independence, seek for the path that most suitable to its own national conditions, and achieve new progresses in the journey of pursing national prosperity. China and India jointly initiated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and advocate upholding sovereignty and territorial integrity, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. The one-China principle is the political foundation of the China-India relations. We have released a series of political documents, stating that， “The Indian side recalled that India was among the first countries to recognize that there is one China and its one China policy remains unaltered. The Indian side stated it would continue to abide by its one China policy.”In 1971, India voted to support the People's Republic of China to restore its lawful seat in the United Nations. The Chinese side appreciates the position of the Indian side above.
It is hoped that the Indian side can adhere to independent foreign policy, understand and support China's justified position and its efforts to defend sovereignty, security and development interests, and honor the one-China principle. It is also hoped that our Indian media friends could be aware of the instigation by “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, hold an objective, rational and independent position in reporting Taiwan-related stories, and follow the one-China principle commitment made by the Indian government, so as to avoid being misled by anti-China forces and "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.
The Chinese government has officially released a white paper titled The Taiwan Question and China's Reunification in the New Era. The white paper gives a comprehensive overview of the history, policies and propositions on the Taiwan question, with the aim to set the record straight and send the most authoritative message to the world. We are ready to work with friends from all countries who love peace and uphold justice to resolutely reject all words and deeds that interfere in China's internal affairs, firmly resist all adventurist moves that jeopardize peace across the Taiwan Strait, and jointly safeguard the one-China principle, defend the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and maintain regional stability and world peace.
In his interaction with the journalists,Ambassador Sun said, we hope that all countries could uphold an objective and fair position, grasp the vicious political intention behind Pelosi's visit and the serious harms of the “Taiwan independence”separatist force, understand and support China's efforts to defend its sovereignty, security and development interests, abide by the one-China principle. The one-China principle is the political foundation of China-India relations. This is also the fundamental premise for China to develop relations with other countries, including India. We hope that the Indian side could openly reiterate its one-China policy like many other countries.
During the briefing, Ambassador Sun also had candid and in-depth exchange with the journalists on China-India relations, border situation and bilateral economic and trade cooperation. The Chinese Embassy provided white paper titled "The Taiwan Question and China's Reunification in the New Era" to all the journalists.
