Attempts to undermine one-China policy will end in failure

On May 22, the 76th World Health Assembly (WHA) once again refused to include a proposal made by some countries on “Taiwan’s participation at the WHA as an observer” in its agenda. This is the seventh year in a row that the WHO has rejected Taiwan-related proposals, which shows that the one-China principle has won universal support from the international community and represents the trend of the times and the aspiration of the people.

Hyping up Taiwan-related issues at the World Health Assembly is unpopular and is bound to fail.

There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The one-China policy is the universal consensus of the international community, and it is also part of the basic norms governing international relations.

The historical and jurisprudential fact that Taiwan is part of China is beyond any doubt, still less will it be changed by any individual country’s support for the Taiwan authorities.

Taiwan’s participation in the activities of international organisations, including the WHO, must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle, which is the fundamental principle affirmed by UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and World Health Assembly Resolution 25.1.

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For eight consecutive years, from 2009 to 2016, Taiwan participated in the World Health Assembly under the name of “Chinese Taipei” and in the capacity as an observer. This is a special arrangement made through cross-Straits consultation on the basis of the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle.

The one-China policy is the political foundation for the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations. It’s also the political foundation for China to make special arrangements for Taiwan’s participation in the WHO. Since the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) came to power in 2016, it has abandoned the 1992 Consensus, and entrenched itself in the separatist position of “Taiwan independence”, resulting in the loss of the political foundation for Taiwan to participate in the WHO Assembly.

Over the years, the DPP authorities have put countries having so-called “diplomatic ties” with Taiwan up to making the proposal. Certain western countries either overtly or covertly encouraged and supported this move, staging one political farce after another. Such a botched performance can in no way change the international community’s firm commitment to the one-China principle. Such a move against the trend of history is also unanimously opposed by countries that uphold justice in the world.

Prior to the opening of the conference, nearly 140 countries expressed to China their adherence to the one-China principle and opposition to Taiwan’s participation in the WHO Assembly. Nearly 100 countries wrote letters to the WHO director-general or made public statements, expressing their understanding and support for the Chinese people’s opposition to “Taiwan independence” activities and their pursuit of the just cause of national reunification.

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The central government of China attaches great importance to the health and well-being of Taiwan compatriots and has consistently provided assistance for timely access to public health information for the Taiwan region. On the premise of the one-China principle, appropriate arrangements have been made for Taiwan’s participation in global health affairs. Based on the arrangements reached between China and the WHO, Taiwan has unimpeded access to the organisation’s relevant information, and Taiwanese medical and health experts continue to participate in WHO technical activities on an individual basis.

The DPP authorities have prioritised their political agenda above the welfare of the Taiwanese people. By spreading lies such as the “gap in epidemic prevention systems,” they have manipulated the World Health Assembly for political purposes, disrupted its proceedings, and put their own political considerations above international public health security. Their motives have long been seen through by the international community and met with strong opposition.

In recent years, some anti-China forces have intensified their efforts to “contain China with Taiwan” and encouraged separatist forces advocating “Taiwan independence” to create trouble and make provocation. These countries, by playing the “Taiwan card” in the World Health Assembly, do not genuinely care about the health of the Taiwanese people. Instead, they view the Taiwan region as a pawn to restrain China’s development and progress. In the end, it is the interests, well-being, and bright future of the Taiwanese compatriots that are sacrificed.

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The Taiwan question is a matter of China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It concerns China’s core interests and the national sentiments of the Chinese people.

China highly appreciates the South African government and people’s consistent and firm adherence to the one-China principle and support for China’s grand cause of reunification. People in the international community are clear-eyed. Any attempt to play the “Taiwan card” or “contain China with Taiwan” is bound to meet with strong opposition from the overwhelming majority of members of the international community and is destined to end up in failure.

• Chen Xiaodong is the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of South Africa