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.
CALL FOR PEACE: Czech President Petr Pavel raised concerns about China’s military maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait and its ‘unfriendly action’ in the South China Sea The leaders of three diplomatic allies — Guatemala, Paraguay and Palau — on Tuesday voiced support for Taiwan’s inclusion in the UN on the first day of the UN General Debate in New York. In his address during the 78th UN General Assembly, Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr urged the UN and all parties involved in cross-strait issues to exercise restraint and seek a peaceful resolution. “The well-being and prosperity of nations and their economies are intrinsically linked to global peace and stability,” he said. He also thanked partner nations such as Taiwan, Australia, Japan and the US for providing assistance
CROSS-STRAIT CONCERNS: At the same US Congress hearing, Mira Resnick said a US government shutdown could affect weapons sales and licenses to allies such as Taiwan A Chinese blockade of Taiwan would be a “monster risk” for Beijing and likely to fail, while a military invasion would be extremely difficult, senior Pentagon officials told the US Congress on Tuesday. Growing worries of a conflict come as China has ramped up military pressure on Taiwan, holding large-scale war games simulating a blockade on the nation, while conducting near-daily warplane incursions and sending Chinese vessels around its waters. US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner said a blockade would be “a monster risk for the PRC [People’s Republic of China].” “It would likely not succeed, and it
‘HARASSMENT’: A record 103 Chinese warplanes were detected in 24 hours, posing severe challenges to security in the Taiwan Strait and the region, the ministry said Taiwan yesterday told China to stop its “destructive unilateral actions” after more than 100 Chinese warplanes and nine navy ships were detected in areas around the nation. The Ministry of National Defense (MND) described the number of warplanes detected in 24 hours as a “recent high,” while Beijing has so far refrained from issuing any official comment on the sorties. “Between the morning of September 17th to 18th, the Ministry of National Defense had detected a total of 103 Chinese aircraft, which was a recent high and has posed severe challenges to the security across the Taiwan Strait and in the region,”
China would be making “a grave strategic mistake” if it tried to attack Taiwan, US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley said in an interview with CNN that aired on Sunday. Asked by host Fareed Zakaria whether the US could repel a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, Milley said: “It is entirely possible.” Milley reiterated that the US still maintains the Taiwan Relations Act, and that it wants “a peaceful outcome between Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China, and whatever that is between those two peoples.” “Militarily, I think China would make a grave strategic mistake if they attempted to