AFP: US senior delegation met with Lai Ching-te and Tsai Ing-wen in Taiwan today. What is your response to this?

Mao Ning: The elections in Taiwan are the affairs of a region in China. China firmly opposes the US having any form of official interaction with Taiwan and interfering in Taiwan affairs in any way or under any pretext. We urge the US to have a clear understanding of the extreme complexity and sensitivity of the Taiwan question, earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, and act seriously in accordance with the commitments that have been reaffirmed multiple times by the US leaders to not supporting “Taiwan independence”, “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan”, and not seeking to use the Taiwan question as a tool to contain China. The US needs to exercise extreme prudence in handling Taiwan-related issues, and must not obscure and hollow out the one-China principle in any form or send any wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.

CCTV: The government of the Republic of Nauru officially announced its decision to recognize the one-China principle, break the so-called “diplomatic ties” with the Taiwan authorities and seek to reestablish diplomatic ties with China. What’s your comment?

Mao Ning: As an independent sovereign country, the Republic of Nauru announced that it recognizes the one-China principle, breaks the so-called “diplomatic ties” with the Taiwan authorities and seeks to reestablish diplomatic ties with China. China appreciates and welcomes the decision of the government of the Republic of Nauru. 

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. It’s what has been affirmed in Resolution 2758 of the UN General Assembly and is a prevailing consensus among the international community. China has established diplomatic relations with 182 countries on the basis of the one-China principle. The Nauru government’s decision of reestablishing diplomatic ties with China once again shows that the one-China principle is where global opinion trends and where the arc of history bends. China stands ready to work with Nauru to open new chapters of our bilateral relations on the basis of the one-China principle.

CCTV: After the results of the two elections for 2024 in the Taiwan region were released, the Spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said that the Russian side opposes any form of Taiwan’s independence, and called on all outside forces to refrain from provocative actions undermining regional stability and international security. What is China’s comment on this?

Mao Ning: We appreciate the remarks of the Russian side. In fact, aside from Russia, many countries and international organizations, including Indonesia, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Belarus, Serbia, Hungary, Papua New Guinea, Cuba, Venezuela, the SCO and the Arab League, have, through issuing statements and press communiqués or answering questions from the press, publicly reaffirmed their commitment to the one-China principle, their firm support for China’s effort to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, their opposition to any form of “Taiwan independence” and their support for China’s cause toward reunification. This is the voice of justice and peace from the international community. It reflects the extensive consensus of the international community in firmly upholding the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations, and embodies the trend of the times and of history. We thank these countries for their understanding of and support for China’s just position.

Whatever changes take place in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change. Taiwan has never been a country and will never be one. We believe that the international community’s prevailing consensus on upholding the one-China principle and long-standing and overwhelming adherence to this principle will become more solid. The Chinese people’s just cause of opposing “Taiwan independence” separatism and external interference and striving for national reunification will win more understanding and support.

Phoenix TV: Taiwan’s foreign affairs office said that China’s reiterated groundless remarks in response to questions concerning the elections of Taiwan that “the Taiwan question is China’s internal affairs” were not in line with the perception of the international community and the cross-Strait status quo. It called on the Chinese government to respect the results of the elections and face up to the reality. What’s your comment?

Mao Ning: The elections of the Taiwan region belong to the affairs of a region in China. Whatever the results of the election, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change; and the international community’s prevailing consensus on upholding the one-China principle will not change.

Both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China. Taiwan is part of China’s territory. The Cairo Declaration issued by China, the US and the UK 80 years ago stipulates clearly that all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Taiwan, shall be restored to China. Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation jointly published by China, the US, the UK and the Soviet Union in 1945 stipulates that the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out. Later Japan accepted the Potsdam Proclamation and announced unconditional surrender. These legally binding international instruments provide the historical and jurisprudential basis for the fact that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. Although the two sides across the Taiwan Strait have yet to be reunified, the sovereignty and territory of China has never been severed and the legal status and fact that Taiwan is part of China’s territory have never changed. This is the real status quo of the Taiwan question. China will achieve national reunification and Taiwan will inevitably return to the embrace of the motherland.

NHK: Why did the government of Nauru announce the decision to cut diplomatic relations with the Taiwan authorities after the elections in Taiwan?

Mao Ning: The government of Nauru announced that it recognizes the one-China principle, breaks the so-called “diplomatic ties” with the Taiwan authorities and seeks to reestablish diplomatic ties with China. This is a choice made independently by Nauru as a sovereign country. It shows that the one-China principle is where global opinion trends and where the arc of history bends.

China News Service: According to media reports in Taiwan, the US, Japan and several European countries said that they plan to send delegations to the Taiwan region to “express congratulations” following the elections. What’s the Foreign Ministry’s comment?

Mao Ning: The elections of the Taiwan region are China’s internal affairs. Regardless of the result, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not be changed.

The one-China principle is the political premise on which China establishes and develops diplomatic relations with other countries, a universally recognized basic norm in international relations and a prevailing consensus among the international community. Anyone in the international community who violates the one-China principle is interfering in China’s internal affairs and infringing upon China’s sovereignty, and will face the joint opposition of the Chinese people and the international community. China deplores and strongly opposes relevant countries’ wrong practices violating the one-China principle, including issuing statements and “expressing congratulations”. We’ve lodged serious démarches.

I noted that following the elections in the Taiwan region, many countries and international organizations have publicly reiterated their commitment to the one-China principle, expressed opposition to “Taiwan independence” in any form and supported China’s reunification. This is the voice of justice and peace from the international community. We believe that the international community will continue to adhere to the one-China principle, and support the Chinese people’s just cause of opposing “Taiwan independence” separatism and striving to achieve national reunification. 

Global Times: On January 14, in response to media queries on the elections in the Taiwan region, the Singaporean Foreign Ministry spokesperson “welcomed” and “congratulated” the elections. What’s China’s comment?

Mao Ning: China has immediately made solemn démarches to Singapore. Singaporean leaders stated on multiple occasions that the Taiwan question is “a deep red line” for China. China values this statement and hopes that Singapore will strictly abide by the one-China principle and uphold the overall friendly relations between China and Singapore with concrete actions.

Dragon TV: It’s reported that Ghana’s Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta said in an interview on January 11 that Ghana has received a draft term sheet on debt relief from its official creditors that is sufficient for the International Monetary Fund to disburse USD 600 million to it. Could you brief us on the latest development?

Mao Ning: China attaches great importance to Ghana’s debt issue and has played an active coordinating role since the establishment of the Creditor Committee. Recently, China has called upon all parties to overcome technical difficulties and bridge differences, and finally led all parties in the Committee to basically agree on Ghana’s debt treatment proposal at the fourth meeting of the Committee on January 8. Some of the Committee members are going through internal procedures in sync. The Chinese side will keep in close contact with all parties and continue to play a positive role in the settlement of Ghana’s debt issue.

News 1 Korea: The DPRK announced that it successfully test-fired an intermediate-range solid-fuel ballistic missile carrying a hypersonic warhead on January 14. What’s China’s comment?

Mao Ning: We noted the reports. All parties need to face the crux of the Korean Peninsula issues squarely, advance the political settlement of the issues through dialogue and consultation and safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

The Paper: It is learned that former Vice Foreign Minister and former Under-Secretary-General of the UN Liu Zhenmin has succeeded Xie Zhenhua as China’s special envoy for climate change. Can you confirm this and share more information?

Mao Ning: As was decided by the Chinese government, former Vice Foreign Minister and former Under-Secretary-General of the UN Liu Zhenmin succeeded Xie Zhenhua as China’s special envoy for climate change. Mr. Xie Zhenhua, while serving as the special envoy, made important contribution to China-US cooperation on climate change and global green and low-carbon development, and has won wide recognition from the international community.

Special envoy Liu Zhenmin is a senior diplomat. He took part in multilateral negotiations on climate change as the head and major member of the Chinese delegation multiple times and, while serving as Under-Secretary-General for the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, presided over the work in areas of climate change and sustainable development. We believe that in his new post, special envoy Liu Zhenmin will continue stepping up dialogue and cooperation with all parties and contributing to the global transition to green and low-carbon development and the building of a community of life for humanity and nature.

Reuters: A Taiwan official just said that China has lured Nauru with monetary support. May we know how much money is China going to give Nauru?

Mao Ning: As a sovereign country, the Republic of Nauru independently made the right choice to announce that it recognizes the one-China principle, breaks the so-called “diplomatic ties” with the Taiwan authorities and seeks to reestablish diplomatic ties with China. This fully shows that the one-China principle is where global opinion trends and where the arc of history bends.

Reuters: Ukraine has said over the weekend that China needs to be involved in talks for peace. Has Ukraine asked China to be involved in talks with Russia to end the Ukraine war? And has Ukraine requested for a meeting between President Zelenskyy and Premier Li Qiang in Davos?

Mao Ning: China’s position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear, which is centered on promoting talks for peace. Since the full escalation of the Ukraine crisis, China has been keeping in touch with relevant parties, including Ukraine. We will continue to work with the international community to play a constructive role for the political settlement of the crisis and we welcome and support all efforts conducive to realizing peace.

On the talks that you mentioned, I have no information to offer.

Beijing Youth Daily: Yesterday marks the 100th day of the outbreak of the latest Palestinian-Israeli conflict. During his visit to Egypt, Foreign Minister Wang Yi exchanged opinions with the Egyptian side on the Palestinian-Israeli situation. During his visit, China-Egypt Joint Statement on the Palestinian Issue and Joint Statement on the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict Between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and the Secretariat of the League of Arab States were issued. Could you further share with us China’s views on the situation in Gaza? What measures will China take to advance a comprehensive, just and sustainable settlement of the Palestinian issue?

Mao Ning: China is gravely concerned that the escalating conflict in Gaza causes massive casualties of innocent civilians, a severe humanitarian disaster and expediting negative spillover effects. Since the outbreak of the latest Palestinian-Israeli conflict, China has all long stood on the side of equity and justice and done our best to realize a ceasefire, restore peace and protect civilians.

As stressed by Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Egypt, ceasefire is the prevailing priority, humanitarian aid is the imperative moral responsibility, the future arrangement of Gaza must fully respect Palestinians’ aspiration, and the two-state solution is the sure path to a just settlement of the Palestinian issue. China will continue to take an impartial stance, play its role as a major responsible country, and relentlessly work with the international community for a comprehensive, just and sustainable settlement of the Palestinian issue at an early date.

Reuters: China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has again called for a larger-scale, more authoritative and more effective international peace conference to end this Gaza crisis. Where should this conference be held and who should host it? Would it be in China?

Mao Ning: China calls for the convening at an early date of an international peace conference with extensive participation to display international authority, promote the formulation of a binding roadmap, implement the two-state solution and, on this basis, advance the resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel and work for the peaceful co-existence between the two countries, so as to realize the comprehensive, just and sustainable settlement of the Palestinian question and bring security and peace to the people of the region. As to when and where to host the conference and who will host it, this needs to be decided through consultation by all parties. China welcomes the UN to play a positive role in this.

Reuters: The Wall Street Journal reported that China has asked the country’s airlines to conduct precautionary safety inspections on the Boeing 737 MAX fleets after the Alaska Airline’s incident with the MAX 9. The newspaper has also said that Beijing is holding off from making further substantive moves as it waits for more clarity from US investigations into the accident. Would the ministry have any comment on this? 

Mao Ning: I’d refer you to competent authorities.