There is only one China in the world, and
Taiwan is part of China. The Government of the People's
Republic of China is the sole legal government of China.
This is the fact recognized by the United Nations and over
160 countries, including the United States of America which
established diplomatic relations with China 20 years ago.
It was true that in 1912, Dr. Sun Yat-sen led
a popular revolution that overthrew the corrupt Qing Dynasty
and founded the Republic of China (not the so-called
"Republic of China on Taiwan" ). What was also
true is that in 1949, that Republic of China which had been
ruled by a corrupt and despotic Kuomintang regime for 28
years was overthrown in another popular revolution. This is
history, whether one likes it or not. Since then, China has
been represented in the world by the People's Republic of
China with its national government in Beijing, and the
"Republic of China" has since become defunct.
The lingering civil war which was imposed on
the Chinese people in late 1940s and more importantly the
intervention by foreign forces against the reunification of
China led to a temporary state of separation between the two
sides of the Taiwan Straits after the People's Republic of
China was founded. But the status of Taiwan as part of
China's territory has never changed, nor has the Government
of the People's Republic China ever given up its
jurisdiction over Taiwan.
When China and the
U.S. formally established diplomatic ties in 1979, the
communiqu?had the following words: "The United States
of America recognizes the Government of the People's
Republic of China as the sole legal government of China.
Within this context, the people of the United States will
maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial
relations with the people of Taiwan ... The Government of
the United States of America acknowledges the Chinese
position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of
China."
The Chinese Government does not
object to the U.S. maintaining non-governmental economic and
cultural relations with Taiwan. What we do oppose is U.S.
conducting official exchanges with the Taiwan authorities.
The dispatch of U.S. Energy Secretary to Taiwan and his
meetings with Lee Teng-hui and other senior officials of
Taiwan constitute a serious violation of the guiding
principles enshrined in the three joint communiqué–Ÿ
between the two countries and the U.S. own pledge of not
having any official contact with Taiwan. It is only
reasonable and entirely justifiable for us to express
concern and lodge protest with the U.S. Government over its
erroneous actions.
I am glad to see the
tremendous progress made in China-U.S. relations in recent
years, especially since the successful exchange of state
visits by the two heads of state. These achievements have
not come by easily. It is my hope that the two sides will
keep up their efforts to build towards a constructive
strategic partnership as it will serve not only the common
interest of the two countries, but also peace, stability and
prosperity in Asia-Pacific and the world at large.
Yu Shuning Spokesman of the Chinese
Embassy in the United States of America