Taiwan’s Firm Stand Against Xi Jinping’s Claims on Sovereignty
In a recent press conference, Taiwan’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Jeff Liu, firmly stated that Taiwan is not subordinate to China. This response came after China’s President Xi Jinping claimed that “Taiwan is a sacred territory of China.” Liu emphasized that Taiwan has never been ruled by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and highlighted the country’s commitment to a free and democratic constitutional system.
During a state banquet, Xi Jinping reiterated the “one-China principle” and the “1992 Consensus,” opposing Taiwan’s independence and expressing a desire for reunification with Taipei. In contrast, Liu stressed that Taiwan’s sovereignty should not be infringed upon and that its future must be determined by its 23 million citizens.
Liu also called for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and advocated for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. He expressed hope that Taiwanese athletes would no longer face interference at the Olympics.
The Mainland Affairs Council of Taiwan (MAC) also rejected Xi’s claims, urging China to acknowledge the reality that Taiwan and China are not affiliated. The MAC called for pragmatic dialogue and goodwill to improve cross-strait relations.
Background on the ‘One China Principle’ and ‘1992 Consensus’
The ‘One China principle’ is a stance by the PRC and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that there is only one sovereign state under the name China. The ‘1992 Consensus’ refers to a meeting between the CCP-led PRC and the Kuomintang-led Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan, which is often credited with creating a diplomatic basis between the two sides.
Doubts Revealed
Taiwan -: Taiwan is an island located in East Asia, near China. It has its own government and operates like an independent country, but China claims it as part of its territory.
Xi Jinping -: Xi Jinping is the President of China. He is a very important leader in China and has a lot of influence over the country’s policies and decisions.
Sovereignty -: Sovereignty means having full control and authority over a territory or country. It means being able to make decisions without interference from other countries.
Foreign Ministry -: A foreign ministry is a government department that deals with a country’s relationships with other countries. In Taiwan, it handles international affairs and represents Taiwan’s interests abroad.
Mainland Affairs Council -: The Mainland Affairs Council is a part of Taiwan’s government that deals with issues related to China. It helps manage the relationship between Taiwan and China.
One China principle -: The ‘One China principle’ is a policy that says there is only one China, and Taiwan is part of it. China strongly supports this idea, but Taiwan does not agree with it.
1992 Consensus -: The ‘1992 Consensus’ is an agreement between China and Taiwan that both sides interpret differently. China sees it as Taiwan agreeing to be part of China, while Taiwan sees it as agreeing to disagree on what ‘One China’ means.
