Only 51 countries, not 180 as claimed by Beijing, adhere to its “one China” principle, a study by a Singaporean researcher showed.
In a paper published on Thursday, National University of Singapore assistant professor Chong Ja Ian (莊嘉穎) wrote that only 51 countries fully comply with the principle as Beijing defines it.
Chong, who is also a researcher at Washington-based think tank the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, reviewed official documents from each country cited by China.
Photo: Reuters
Chong referenced a 1996 article by Soochow University professor Lee Tzu-wen (李子文) in which Lee researched Taiwan’s status in the international community.
Chong correlated that information with current documents from each country discussed in Lee’s article to show that, as of last month, only 51 nations “recognize the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, and agree that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.”
Other countries use different wording in their official documents regarding China’s sovereignty claims over Taiwan.
Twenty-seven countries do not recognize the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, and do not mention Taiwan’s sovereignty, while 16 “acknowledge” the claims, Chong wrote.
Nine countries say that they “recognize” the claims of China, but four say they “understand and respect” the claims.
The Netherlands and South Korea say only that they “respect” the claims, while Russia says it “supports and respects” China’s position on Taiwan’s sovereignty.
The US’ “one China” policy says it “acknowledges” China’s position on Taiwan’s sovereignty, while 14 countries cited are Taiwan’s diplomatic allies.
The remaining countries in the report make no clear reference to Taiwan’s sovereignty in their official documents.
It has been Washington’s long-standing policy not to take a position on Taiwan’s sovereignty, but US officials rarely address its stance publicly.
One such instance was when then-Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told a news conference on Oct. 12, 2021, that the US has long abided by its “one China” policy, which is distinct from Beijing’s “one China” principle, which asserts sovereignty over Taiwan.
The US “takes no position over the sovereignty of Taiwan or on sovereignty over Taiwan,” Kirby said.
This story has been amended since it was first published.
The paramount chief of a volcanic island in Vanuatu yesterday said that he was “very impressed” by a UN court’s declaration that countries must tackle climate change. Vanuatu spearheaded the legal case at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, which on Wednesday ruled that countries have a duty to protect against the threat of a warming planet. “I’m very impressed,” George Bumseng, the top chief of the Pacific archipelago’s island of Ambrym, told reporters in the capital, Port Vila. “We have been waiting for this decision for a long time because we have been victims of this climate change for
MASSIVE LOSS: If the next recall votes also fail, it would signal that the administration of President William Lai would continue to face strong resistance within the legislature The results of recall votes yesterday dealt a blow to the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) efforts to overturn the opposition-controlled legislature, as all 24 Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers survived the recall bids. Backed by President William Lai’s (賴清德) DPP, civic groups led the recall drive, seeking to remove 31 out of 39 KMT lawmakers from the 113-seat legislature, in which the KMT and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) together hold a majority with 62 seats, while the DPP holds 51 seats. The scale of the recall elections was unprecedented, with another seven KMT lawmakers facing similar votes on Aug. 23. For a
Rainfall is expected to become more widespread and persistent across central and southern Taiwan over the next few days, with the effects of the weather patterns becoming most prominent between last night and tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Independent meteorologist Daniel Wu (吳德榮) said that based on the latest forecast models of the combination of a low-pressure system and southwesterly winds, rainfall and flooding are expected to continue in central and southern Taiwan from today to Sunday. The CWA also warned of flash floods, thunder and lightning, and strong gusts in these areas, as well as landslides and fallen
All 24 lawmakers of the main opposition Chinese Nationalists Party (KMT) on Saturday survived historical nationwide recall elections, ensuring that the KMT along with Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) lawmakers will maintain opposition control of the legislature. Recall votes against all 24 KMT lawmakers as well as Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao (高虹安) and KMT legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) failed to pass, according to Central Election Commission (CEC) figures. In only six of the 24 recall votes did the ballots cast in favor of the recall even meet the threshold of 25 percent of eligible voters needed for the recall to pass,