On 14 May, H.E. Consul General Wang Yu published a signed article entitled “Upholding the One-China Principle and Safeguarding Peace and Stability in the Taiwan Strait” in the local newspapers Australian Chinese Daily and Chinese Daily Herald. The full text is as follows:

The one-China principle is where the arc of history bends and public opinion trends, and to uphold it is the right thing to do. No one can ever stop the eventual reunification of China.Here, I would like to take this opportunity to give a detailed introduction to the one-China principle, the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, and the future of cross-Strait relations to the friends inNew South Wales.

The core meaning of the one-China principle includes: there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and firmly opposes “Taiwan independence” in all forms, steadfastly supports the Chinese government in realizing national reunification. The one-China principle is a generally recognized norm in international relations, and it represents a general consensus of the international community. Resolution 2758 is a political document encapsulating the one-China principle whose legal authority leaves no room for doubt and has been acknowledged worldwide. It is also the fundamental prerequisite and political foundation for China to develop relations with other countries including Australia.

The fundamental status quo across the Taiwan Strait is that Taiwan is a part of China, and the biggest threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is “Taiwan independence” forces’ separatist activities and external connivance and support for these activities. The root cause of the current tension in the Taiwan Strait lies in the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities’ stubborn adherence to the separatist stance of “Taiwan independence” and their provocations in seeking “independence” by colluding with external forces. The future of Taiwan lies in China’s reunification, and the well-being of the people in Taiwan hinges on the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are brothers and sisters of the same blood. The two sides form a community of common destiny are inseparable. The peaceful development of cross-Strait relations is the correct path to maintain peace, promote common development, and benefit the people on both sides of the Strait. We are ready to create vast space for peaceful reunification, but we will leave no room for separatist activities in any form.

The Chinese government and the Chinese people have endeavored to pursue the historic mission of resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China’s complete reunification. We have, acting in a spirit of seeking common ground while setting aside differences and on the basis of the one-China principle, enabled the two sides to reach the “1992 Consensus” that “both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one China and will work together toward national reunification.” The two sides have thus initiated consultations and negotiation and promoted cross-Strait party-to-party exchanges. We have opened up a path for promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. Recently, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with Cheng Li-wun, chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang(KMT) party, in Beijing. Dialogue and exchanges were carried out on the basis of the common political foundation of adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing “Taiwan independence.” In the meeting, Xi Jinping put forward a set of proposals for advancing cross-Strait relations including forging closer bonds across the Strait by upholding a correct understanding of identity, safeguarding the shared homeland through peaceful development, fostering the well-being of the people through exchanges and integration and joint efforts to achieve national rejuvenation. The Chinese mainland has also rolled out a package of 10 policies and measures to boost exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait. The measures cover inter-party exchanges, youth exchanges, as well as economy, people’s livelihood, culture and tourism, aligning with the shared aspiration of people on both sides of the Strait for peace, development, exchanges and cooperation. The outline of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly states that it is necessary to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, improve the well-being of compatriots on both sides of the Strait, promote cross-Strait economic cooperation, and deepen cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation.

China’s reunification is a historical trend and the right path, while “Taiwan independence” goes against the tide of history, and it is a path to nowhere. No matter how the international landscape and the situation across the Taiwan Strait may evolve, the overarching trend toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not change, and the prevailing momentum for the Chinese on both sides of the Strait to come together will not change. The Taiwan question originated in a weak and ravaged China, and it will definitely end with China’s rejuvenation. The reunification of China will not harm the legitimate interests of any other country including Australia. On the contrary, it will bring more development opportunities to all countries; it will create more positive momentum for prosperity and stability in the Asia-Pacific and the rest of the world; it will contribute more to building a global community of shared future, promoting world peace and development, and propelling human progress.