As a grave danger to its sovereignty and territorial integrity, the People’s Republic of China has reaffirmed its opposition to Taiwan’s independence.
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While speaking Thursday at a media salon in Abuja on the One-China Principle as the Bedrock of China-Nigeria Relations, Zhu Songbo—chief of the political section of the Chinese embassy in Nigeria—made this statement.
In his explanation of the one-China principle, Zhu emphasized that Taiwan is an integral portion of China’s territory and that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the only legal authority representing all of China. He also underscored that there is only one China in the world.
In addition, Zhu emphasized that the one-China principle is universally applicable, without exception, and without dispute, stating that all UN member states and countries with diplomatic ties to China must adhere to it without reservation.
Zhu praised Nigeria’s adherence to the one-China concept in relation to the Taiwan issue, pointing to the country’s actions, such as the removal of the Taiwan Trade Office from Abuja, as evidence. China has respected Nigeria’s adherence to the one-China policy.
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He expressed his hope that Nigeria will maintain its stance of principle and back China’s endeavors to attain national reunification.
Charles Onunaiju, director of the Centre for China Studies, made the statement that the Chinese and the Taiwanese are really one people, with a shared history and culture.
He made the point that Nigeria’s unwavering recognition of the People’s Republic of China as the only lawful representative of China demonstrates how sacred its stance on the One-China concept is.
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He clarified that the Taiwan Trade Office in Lagos is not an embassy but rather an organization that facilitates trade between the two countries, with the main goal of fostering economic and commercial relations between the two.
According to Professor Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim of the University of Abuja’s Department of Political Science and International Relations, no nation will tolerate separatist movements that threaten its independence or territory. Professor Ibrahim stressed that China shares this view regarding Taiwan’s potential independence.
Several laws and frameworks, including anti-secession laws, support the One-China policy, he claims, and the United Nations Resolution 2758 of 1971 acknowledges the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legal representative of China, with Taiwan considered an integral part of it.
He explained that Deng Xiaoping proposed the idea of “One Country, Two Systems” to achieve peaceful reunification and to allow multiple systems to live within a unified China.
According to Austin Maho, a professor at the International Institute of Journalism, journalists should be very careful and responsible when covering delicate topics like the Taiwan question because the media greatly influences public opinion and society.
Press should be cognizant of the fact that the People’s Republic of China views Taiwan independence as an insurmountable boundary, as he emphasized once again.
He went on to say that journalists need to know the ins and outs of the Sino-Nigerian conflict in order to report fairly and accurately, and that they should not refer to Taiwan as a “country” or suggest further cooperation between the two countries.