One China principle | |||||||||||
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Simplified Chinese | 一个中国原则 | ||||||||||
Traditional Chinese | 一個中國原則 | ||||||||||
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The One Chinaprinciple is the official position of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on the political status of Taiwan and cross-strait relations,and is also an important guideline of its foreign policy. The government of the People's Republic of China pursues Chinese unification based on this principle and has established it as a national policy through the Constitution of China and the Anti-Secession Law.
The standard statement of the Government of the People's Republic of China on the One China Principle is as follows:
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.
Guided by its One China principle, the government of the PRC opposes the Republic of China (or Taiwan) from developing diplomatic relations with other countries in the world, or any relations of a state-to-state nature, and opposes Taiwan from participating in the United Nations system and other intergovernmental international organizations. It requires that Taiwan can only participate in non-governmental international organizations under names that do not carry national characteristics, such as "Chinese Taipei" or "Taiwan, China".
This proposition is different from the "One China Principle" of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and has therefore long been not accepted by the government of the Republic of China. Before the 1970s, the ROC government used its "One China Principle" to implement a policy of " no coexistence between Han and traitors" and a closed policy against the government of the People's Republic of China, believing that it had the right to represent China and suppress the international space of the People's Republic of China. However, with the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 in 1971 and Nixon's visit to China in 1972, the diplomatic situation on both sides of the Taiwan Strait changed, and the ROC's international diplomatic recognition decreased. With the change of the international situation after the end of the Cold War, the government of the Republic of China has stopped actively competing with mainland China for the right to represent China with the "One China Principle" since the 1990s, and instead emphasized the equality between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait; in contrast, the government of the People's Republic of China has suppressed the international space of the Republic of China with its own "One China Principle".
On October 2, 1949, the Soviet Union recognized the People's Republic of China and became the first country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China then issued a statement to sever diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union. In 1950, Britain, a member of the Western world, took the lead in recognizing the People's Republic of China and severed diplomatic relations with the Republic of China. After that, both sides did not accept dual recognition in the diplomatic field. The Republic of China government severed diplomatic relations with countries that recognized the People's Republic of China as representing China. On the contrary, the People's Republic of China government would never establish diplomatic relations with countries that recognized the Republic of China as representing China. [1]
In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 2758, which replaced the Republic of China as China's representative in the United Nations. In the international community, after breaking off diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, other countries established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. In the communiqués on the establishment of diplomatic relations, all countries agreed to the one-China policy proposed by China, that is, "there is only one China in the world, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the only legal government of China." The attitudes towards the status of Taiwan were different in both text and practice. [1]
In 1982, the preamble of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China stated that "Taiwan is part of the sacred territory of the People's Republic of China. It is the sacred duty of all Chinese people, including our compatriots in Taiwan, to accomplish the great cause of unifying the motherland." In 2005, the Anti-Secession Law was enacted to codify the one-China policy. [1]
The "One China Principle" of the People's Republic of China has been expressed in different versions, namely the "old three sentences" and the "new three sentences". [1]
The old three sentences adhere to the "representative theory of this government", which includes the sentence "The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing all of China." This version is often used in diplomatic occasions, such as when establishing diplomatic relations with other countries and participating in international organizations. [2] [1]
The order of the following three clauses varies slightly in different situations.
There is only one China in the world. The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing all of China. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.
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.
The One China Principle and the Taiwan Question (White Paper) states: "Foreign countries recognize that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing all of China and that diplomatic relations with the Taiwan authorities shall be severed or not established. These are the principles upon which New China establishes diplomatic relations." It also states that this version of the proposition "constitutes the basic meaning of the One China Principle, the core of which is to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity." [3]
Since the 2000s, whenever the People's Republic of China established diplomatic relations with other countries, the other governments would "recognize" this version of the "One China Principle" in the communiqués establishing diplomatic relations. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] On August 4, 2000, China's permanent representative to the United Nations also used this version of the "One China Principle" in a letter to the UN Secretary-General. [9]
On August 4, 2022, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying also used this version of the "One China Principle" during a regular press conference, and stressed that "the One China Principle has only one version and one meaning," and "no private insertion of any premise or suffix is allowed, nor is any misinterpretation or distortion." On May 10, 2024, Yang Tao, Director General of the Department of North America and Oceania of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also used this version of the "One China Principle" during a briefing, criticizing the United States for "claiming to adhere to the One China policy, but adding the "Taiwan Relations Act" and "Six Assurances to Taiwan" as prefixes and suffixes." [10]
The new three sentences replaced "this government representative said" with "they all belong to China". After the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Jiang Zemin delivered a speech entitled "Continue to strive for the completion of the great cause of national reunification," the "One China Principle" had a new expression. In January 1998, the government of the People's Republic of China proposed the "One China Principle" to Taiwan as follows: [11]
There is only one China in the world. Taiwan is a part of China. China's sovereignty and territorial integrity are indivisible.
The "One China Principle" adopted in the 2000s is expressed as follows: [12]
There is only one China in the world. Mainland China and Taiwan belong to one China. China's sovereignty and territorial integrity are indivisible.
This version gradually changed the sentence "The government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing all of China" to "China's sovereignty and territorial integrity cannot be divided" and changed the sentence "Taiwan is a part of China" to "Mainland China and Taiwan belong to one China." Lawyer Chen Changwen believes that the new version changes the relationship from subordinate to equal. This version is mostly used in dealing with cross-strait relations. [12]
The Taiwan Affairs Office of the CCP Central Committee believes that this version of the statement is "a new elaboration of Comrade Jiang Zemin's personal statement on upholding the one-China principle. It not only upholds the consistency of the one-China principle, but also demonstrates the sincerity of striving for peaceful reunification and respect for Taiwan compatriots. It is very inclusive." [13] The White Paper of the Government of the People's Republic of China, The One China Principle and the Taiwan Question states that the purpose of this version is "to seek and expand the political foundation for cross-strait relations" and that its application is "before reunification, in handling cross-strait affairs, and especially in cross-strait negotiations". [11]
On the anniversary of Jiang Zemin's speech "Continue to Strive to Promote the Completion of the Great Cause of National Reunification", then-Vice Premier Qian Qichen used this version of the "One China Principle" in his speeches. [14] [15] [16] In August 2000, Vice Premier Qian Qichen also used this version of the "One China Principle" when meeting with a delegation from the United Daily News Group of Taiwan. In November 2002, Jiang Zemin also used this version of the "One China Principle" in his report to the 16th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. [11] This version of the "One China Principle" was also used in the Anti-Secession Law passed on March 14, 2005. [17]
The official view of the People's Republic of China is that the 1992 Consensus is a consensus that both sides of the Taiwan Straits uphold the one-China principle and China's reunification.
The white paper released by the government of the People's Republic of China states that the Chinese government "resumes the exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan" on October 25, 1945, and China has therefore legally and factually recovered Taiwan ; after the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, it replaced the Republic of China 's rule over China, completing the regime change in the sense of international law. Therefore, the government of the People's Republic of China, as the sole legitimate government of China, has the right to exercise sovereignty over Taiwan. [18]
The preamble to the 1982 Constitution of the People's Republic of China stipulates that "Taiwan is part of the sacred territory of the People's Republic of China. It is the sacred duty of all Chinese people, including our compatriots in Taiwan, to accomplish the great cause of unifying the motherland." The 2005 Anti-Secession Law stipulates that:
There is only one China in the world . The mainland and Taiwan belong to the same China. China's sovereignty and territorial integrity cannot be divided. Maintaining national sovereignty and territorial integrity is the common obligation of all Chinese people, including our compatriots in Taiwan . Taiwan is a part of China. The state will never allow the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces to split Taiwan from China in any name or by any means.
Upholding the one-China principle is the basis for achieving the peaceful reunification of the motherland .
Realizing the reunification of the motherland through peaceful means is in the best interests of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. The country will make the greatest sincerity and efforts to achieve peaceful reunification.
After the peaceful reunification of the country, Taiwan can implement a system different from that of the mainland and enjoy a high degree of autonomy.
The White Paper of the Government of the People's Republic of China states that the Chinese people, under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, overthrew the "Republic of China" government in Nanjing and established the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949. The government of the People's Republic of China became the only legitimate government in China. [19] "Since the Kuomintang ruling group retreated to Taiwan, although its regime continues to use the names of 'Republic of China' and 'Government of the Republic of China', it has long lost the right to exercise national sovereignty on behalf of China and has always been only a local authority on Chinese territory." [20]
Since the 1980s, the government of the People's Republic of China, news media, and publishing organizations have a series of regulations, including prohibitions, when using terms related to government agencies, personnel identities, laws and regulations of the Republic of China. These are so-called Taiwan-related terms. Specifically: [21]
In the legal systems of international law and domestic law, the People's Republic of China does not recognize the legal status of the Republic of China. The political view that the Republic of China exists and can represent China is classified as two Chinas, which is Taiwan independence and is illegal in law. The view that the Taiwan authorities are the legitimate regime and a sovereign and independent country is called One China, One Taiwan, which is Taiwan independence.
In non-governmental affairs, limited non-governmental exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are allowed through consultation between the Straits Exchange Foundation and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, but they cannot be conducted in the official form of the Republic of China.
The 1991 "Regulations on the Administration of Chinese Citizens’ Travel to and from the Taiwan Region" defines Taiwan residents as "Chinese citizens residing in the Taiwan region ". In the legal system of the People's Republic of China, it is recognized that the vast majority of citizens of the Republic of China are Chinese citizens (citizens of the People's Republic of China) and have Chinese nationality (nationality of the People's Republic of China). [22] : 42
The White Paper of the Government of the People's Republic of China states that, as the sole legitimate government of China, the Government of the People's Republic of China has the right and obligation to exercise national sovereignty and represent the whole of China in international organizations. Taiwan's attempt to participate in certain international organizations that only sovereign states can participate in is an act of creating "two Chinas". [23]
The Government of the People's Republic of China believes that all agencies and other intergovernmental international organizations of the United Nations system are intergovernmental international organizations attended by representatives of sovereign states, and Taiwan has no right to participate. After the adoption of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, the issue of China's representation in the United Nations has been completely resolved. The Government of the People's Republic of China opposes "Taiwan's admission into the United Nations" and believes that there is no question of Taiwan joining again. [23]
The Government of the People's Republic of China also believes that Taiwan's membership in the Asian Development Bank under the name of "Chinese Taipei" and in regional economic organizations such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) under the name of "Chinese Taipei" is based on the agreements or understandings reached between the Government of the People's Republic of China and relevant parties, which clearly stipulate that the People's Republic of China participates as a sovereign state and Taiwan participates only as a region of China. This is purely a special arrangement and cannot constitute a "model" for other intergovernmental international organizations and international activities to emulate. [23]
The Government of the People's Republic of China also believes that for non-governmental international organizations, relevant organizations on the Taiwan side can only participate under the name of "Taipei, China" or " Taiwan, China" when the corresponding organizations of the People's Republic of China reach an agreement or understanding with the relevant parties and when national organizations in China participate under the name of "China". [23]
Today, achieving China's reunification is the will of the people and the general trend. The world generally recognizes that there is only one China and that the government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government of China. The recent signing of the Sino-Japanese Treaty of Peace and Friendship and the normalization of Sino-US relations show that the trend is coming and no one can stop it. At present, the motherland is stable and united, and the situation is better than ever before. People of all ethnic groups on the mainland are working together to achieve the great goal of the four modernizations. We earnestly hope that Taiwan will return to the motherland as soon as possible and jointly develop the great cause of nation-building. Our national leaders have expressed their determination to take into account the actual situation and complete the great cause of national reunification. When solving the issue of reunification, they will respect the current situation in Taiwan and the opinions of people from all walks of life in Taiwan, adopt reasonable policies and measures, and not let the people of Taiwan suffer losses. People from all walks of life in Taiwan have also expressed their homesickness and expressed their wish to "recognize and return", put forward various suggestions, and warmly hope to return to the embrace of the motherland as soon as possible. Today, all conditions are conducive to reunification. It can be said that everything is ready. No one should go against the will of the nation, list Taiwan as a country, and go against the trend of history.”
对此,中国政府理所当然地予以坚决反对,主张和坚持世界上只有一个中国,台湾是中国的一部分,中华人民共和国政府是代表全中国的唯一合法政府。正是在中国与外国发展正常的外交关系中,在维护中国的主权和领土完整的斗争中,产生了一个中国原则。上述主张构成了一个中国原则的基本涵义,核心是维护中国的主权和领土完整。
所罗门群岛政府承认世界上只有一个中国,中华人民共和国政府是代表全中国的唯一合法政府,台湾是中国领土不可分割的一部分。
尼加拉瓜共和国政府承认世界上只有一个中国,中华人民共和国政府是代表全中国的唯一合法政府,台湾是中国领土不可分割的一部分。
布基纳法索政府承认世界上只有一个中国,中华人民共和国政府是代表全中国的唯一合法政府,台湾是中国领土不可分割的一部分。
瑙鲁共和国政府承认世界上只有一个中国,中华人民共和国政府是代表全中国的唯一合法政府,台湾是中国领土不可分割的一部分。
多米尼克国政府承认世界上只有一个中国,中华人民共和国政府是代表全中国的唯一合法政府,台湾是中国领土不可分割的一部分。
世界上只有一个中国,台湾是中国领土不可分割的一部分,中华人民共和国政府是代表全中国的唯一合法政府。
第一,一个中国原则清清楚楚,就是世界上只有一个中国,台湾是中国的一部分,中华人民共和国政府是代表全中国的唯一合法政府。
一九九八年一月,为寻求和扩大两岸关系的政治基础,中国政府向台湾方面明确提出,在统一之前,在处理两岸关系事务中,特别是在两岸谈判中,坚持一个中国原则,也就是坚持世界上只有一个中国,台湾是中国的一部分,中国的主权和领土完整不容分割。中国政府希望,在一个中国原则基础上,双方平等协商,共议统一。
在统一之前,在处理两岸关系事务中,特别是在两岸谈判中,坚持一个中国的原则,就是坚持世界上只有一个中国,台湾是中国的一部分,中国的主权和领土完整不能分割。
我们多次说过,世界上只有一个中国,大陆和台湾同属一个中国,中国的主权和领土完整不容分割。这是海峡两岸坚持一个中国原则的共同基点。
钱其琛强调,世界上只有一个中国,大陆和台湾同属一个中国,中国的主权和领土完整不容分割。
1941年12月9日,中国政府发布对日宣战布告,宣告"所有一切条约、协定、合同,有涉及中日间之关系者,一律废止",并宣布将收回台湾、澎湖列岛。1943年12月1日,中美英三国政府发表《开罗宣言》宣布,三国之宗旨在使日本所窃取于中国之领土,例如东北、台湾、澎湖列岛等,归还中国。1945年7月26日,中美英三国共同签署、后来苏联参加的《波茨坦公告》,重申"开罗宣言之条件必将实施"。同年9月,日本签署《日本投降条款》,承诺"忠诚履行波茨坦公告各项规定之义务"。10月25日,中国政府宣告"恢复对台湾行使主权",并在台北举行"中国战区台湾省受降仪式"。由此,通过一系列具有国际法律效力的文件,中国从法律和事实上收复了台湾。1949年10月1日,中华人民共和国中央人民政府宣告成立,取代中华民国政府成为代表全中国的唯一合法政府。这是在中国这一国际法主体没有发生变化情况下的政权更替,中国的主权和固有领土疆域没有改变,中华人民共和国政府理所当然地完全享有和行使中国的主权,其中包括对台湾的主权。由于中国内战延续和外部势力干涉,海峡两岸陷入长期政治对立的特殊状态,但中国的主权和领土从未分割也决不允许分割,台湾是中国领土的一部分的地位从未改变也决不允许改变。
惟当时以蒋介石为首的国民党集团依仗美国的支持,置全国人民渴望和平与建设独立、民主、富强的新中国的强烈愿望於不顾,撕毁国共两党签订的《双十协定》,发动了全国规模的反人民内战。中国人民在中国共产党领导下被迫进行了三年多的人民解放战争,由於当时的国民党集团倒行逆施,已为全国各族人民所唾弃,中国人民终於推翻了南京的"中华民国"政府。一九四九年十月一日成立了中华人民共和国,中华人民共和国政府成为中国的唯一合法政府。国民党集团的一部分军政人员退据台湾。他们在当时美国政府的支持下,造成了台湾海峡两岸隔绝的状态。(in Chinese)
每个国家的主权是完整的,既不能分割,也不能分享。中华人民共和国政府作为中国的唯一合法政府,有权利也有义务在国际组织中行使国家主权,代表整个中国。台湾当局企图在某些只有主权国家才能参加的国际组织中搞所谓"一国两席",就是要制造"两个中国"。中国政府坚决反对这种行径。这一原则立场完全符合包括台湾同胞和海外侨胞在内的全中国人民的根本利益。只有在坚持一个中国原则立场的前提下,中国政府才可以考虑,根据有关国际组织的性质、章程规定和实际情况,以中国政府同意和接受的某种方式,来处理台湾参加某些国际组织活动的问题。(in Chinese)
联合国系统的所有机构,是由主权国家代表参加的政府间国际组织。在恢复中华人民共和国在联合国的合法权利后,联合国系统的所有机构都已通过正式决议,恢复中华人民共和国享有的合法席位,驱逐了台湾当局的"代表"。自此,在联合国组织中的中国代表权问题已获得了彻底的解决,根本不存在台湾再加入的问题。需要指出的是,近一个时期来,台湾当局的某些人又为"重返联合国"而大肆鼓噪。十分明显,这是一种妄图割裂国家主权的行径,它无论在法理上或实际上都是行不通的。中国政府相信各国政府和联合国系统的组织会识破这一图谋,不做有损於中国主权的事情。
其他政府间国际组织,原则上台湾也无权参加。至於亚洲开发银行(ADB)、亚太经济合作组织(APEC)等地区性经济组织,台湾的加入系根据中国政府与有关方面达成的协议或谅解,明确规定中华人民共和国作为主权国家参加,台湾只作为中国的一个地区以"中国台北"(英文在亚行为TAIPEI,CHINA;在亚太经济合作组织为CHINESETAIPEI)的名称参加活动。这种做法属於特殊安排,不能构成其他政府间国际组织及国际活动效仿的"模式"。
在民间性质的国际组织中,中华人民共和国的相应组织同有关方面达成协议或谅解,在中国的全国性组织以中国的名义参加的情况下,台湾的相应组织可以以"中国台北"(TAIPEI,CHINA)或"中国台湾"(TAIWAN,CHINA)的名称参加。