Taiwan rejects Beijing's reiteration of 'one China' principle

Taiwan is a democratic country, China has no right to make irresponsible remarks: MOFA

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (CNA photo)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Sunday evening (May 24) responded to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's (王毅) mention of the “one China principle" during a televised press conference earlier that day.

During a press conference for the third plenary session of the 13th National People's Congress in Beijing, Chinese media asked Wang if China was worried Taiwan-related issues would have a further negative impact on Sino-U.S. relations given that Taiwan-U.S. ties have improved substantially, CNA reported. Wang reiterated the “one China principle," adding that the Chinese government and World Health Organization (WHO) have made proper arrangements for the “Taiwan area” to participate in global health affairs.

He stated that Taiwan had shared information on Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic prevention with the WHO and its members. Wang assured that channels for cooperation and professional exchanges are completely unobstructed and denied that there had ever been technical hindrances or gaps in epidemic prevention.

In response to Wang’s comments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) issued a press release declaring that Taiwan is a recognized democratic country. It also stressed that only the people of Taiwan have the right to decide their future and that only Taiwan’s elected government has the right to represent the Taiwanese.

MOFA further stated that China has no right to make such "irresponsible remarks."

The Chinese government wants to impose “unification” on Taiwan regardless of the wishes of the nation’s citizens, MOFA expressed. The ministry went on to say that this only serves to highlight Beijing’s contempt for public opinion, hostility toward democracy, and incompatibility with democratic countries.

MOFA also pointed out that President Tsai Ing-wen's (蔡英文) inauguration speech on May 20 emphasized Taiwan’s adherence to the principles of “peace, reciprocity, freedom, and democracy” in cross-strait exchanges and promotion of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan rejects Beijing's “one country, two systems,” which would downplay Taiwan’s political status and undermine the status quo, the ministry declared. It concluded by saying the actions of the Chinese government cannot stop Taiwan's determination to contribute to the world.