Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said on Thursday that the one-China principle shall not be infringed upon, following the Taiwan authorities' calls for "participation" in the UN and attempts to distort UN General Assembly Resolution 2758.

"This is yet another political farce staged by separatist forces for 'Taiwan independence' and some anti-China forces newsjacking the opening of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly," he said in a statement.

"The so-called Taiwan's participation in the United Nations is an utterly false narrative."

He stressed that there is but one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, that the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) is the sole legitimate government of China, and that the UN is an inter-governmental organization composed of sovereign states.

"As a province of China, Taiwan has no basis, reason, or right whatsoever to participate in the United Nations and its relevant agencies," he said.

Zhang said, while upholding the one-China principle, the government of the PRC previously had made proper arrangements for the Taiwan region's participation in the World Health Assembly and the International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly. 

However, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan have been stubbornly pushing for "Taiwan independence" and refused to accept the 1992 Consensus, thus erasing the political foundation for such arrangements, he added.

"The responsibility lies solely with the DPP authorities," the Chinese envoy said.

Zhang noted that the one-China principle is a general consensus of the international community and is consistent with the basic norms of international relations.

At present, 182 countries have established diplomatic relations with the PRC on the basis of the one-China principle.

By clamoring for "participation" in the UN, the DPP authorities and some external forces are seeking to create "one China, one Taiwan" or "two Chinas," said Zhang. "This is a blatant violation of the basic norms of international relations."

UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, adopted in 1971, was a fundamental solution to the issue concerning China's representation in the UN. The resolution recognizes the representatives of the government of the PRC as the only legitimate representatives of China to the UN. The resolution expelled the "representatives" of the Taiwan authorities.

"Ever since then, the United Nations' position on this issue has been crystal clear and consistent, always upholding the one-China principle and always abiding by Resolution 2758," said Zhang.

"UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 is not to be misinterpreted, and the one-China principle is not to be infringed on," he said.

"We will continue to uphold the basic principles of peaceful reunification and 'One Country, Two Systems,' work for the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, and resolutely thwart attempts of 'Taiwan independence' and external interference," said Zhang.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: The Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei City, China's Taiwan. /Xinhua)