Beijing has once again asserted that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, escalating a war of words over the interpretation of a landmark United Nations resolution. The exchange comes as the island's leadership pushes back against what it calls a distortion of international law.
On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that "Taiwan has never been a country and will never be a country," directly challenging recent remarks by Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te. Lai had earlier insisted that China was misrepresenting UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and described Taiwan as a "sovereign independent nation."
Mao accused the Lai administration of "distorting Resolution 2758" and exposing what she termed "their separatist nature for Taiwan independence." She emphasized that the resolution, adopted in 1971, "resolved once and for all the question of the whole of China including Taiwan at the United Nations," and dismissed any notion of "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan."
A diplomatic standoff with global echoes
The dispute is not merely rhetorical. It touches on the legal and political status of Taiwan, a matter that has profound implications for international relations, particularly for European nations that maintain unofficial ties with Taipei while formally recognizing Beijing. The European Union, for instance, has consistently adhered to a One-China policy, but has also called for peaceful resolution and dialogue.
Chen Binhua, spokesperson for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office, reiterated that "the one-China principle is a basic norm of international relations." He accused the Democratic Progressive Party, which governs Taiwan, of promoting a "new two-state theory" that undermines regional stability.
The 1971 resolution recognized the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate representative of China at the UN, expelling the delegation led by Chiang Kai-shek. However, the text makes no explicit mention of Taiwan's sovereignty or political status, a point that Taipei and its supporters argue leaves room for interpretation.
Beijing claims that more than 180 UN member states support the One-China principle, a figure that underscores the diplomatic isolation Taiwan faces on the world stage. Yet, the island continues to maintain informal relations with several European countries, including trade and cultural exchanges, and has seen growing interest in its technology sector, as evidenced by Taiwan's AI stock surge.
The latest spat comes amid heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait, with China increasing military pressure and diplomatic campaigns to isolate the island. European policymakers are watching closely, as any escalation could have significant economic and security repercussions for the continent, particularly given the EU's reliance on Chinese raw materials and its ongoing trade negotiations with Beijing.
Mao's comments also reflect a broader pattern of Beijing using UN resolutions to reinforce its territorial claims. The Chinese government has repeatedly invoked Resolution 2758 to counter any suggestion that Taiwan has a separate legal standing, a stance that resonates with its position on other disputed territories.
For now, the dispute remains largely diplomatic, but the stakes are high. As the EU seeks to balance its economic interests with its values, the Taiwan question is likely to remain a delicate issue in Brussels and other European capitals. The coming months may test the bloc's ability to maintain a unified position, especially as trade deadlines loom and China's economic influence grows.
