Taiwan's status is determined once and for all

Editor's note: Xin Ping is a Beijing-based international affairs commentator. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The U.S. recent rehash of its misrepresentation of Taiwan's status once again puts the Taiwan question in the spotlight. Despite well-documented and clear-cut evidence, the "American Institute in Taiwan (AIT)" has intentionally tried to tilt the public toward a distorted picture of what occurred over 80 years ago and beyond. Such smoke and mirrors simply cannot change the status of Taiwan as an inalienable part of China – a fact rooted in history and affirmed by international law.

A simple truth: Both de facto and de jure

The claim that Taiwan's status remains "undetermined" is nothing but a self-defeating myth. In truth, Taiwan's status has long been conclusively settled through a series of legally binding international documents.

The 1943 Cairo Declaration, jointly issued by China, the U.S. and the UK, explicitly stated that all the territories seized by Japan, including Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, must be restored to China. This was reaffirmed in the 1945 Potsdam Proclamation, which stipulated that the terms of the Cairo Declaration "shall be carried out." Japan formally accepted these terms in its instrument of surrender later that year. In October 1945, the Chinese government officially resumed sovereignty over the island.

As such, the restoration of Taiwan is an established part of the post-war international order. With the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on October 1, 1949, the new government replaced the previous Kuomintang regime as the sole legal government representing the whole of China. This transition did not alter China's sovereignty or territorial integrity. Despite the change of government, China, as a subject of international law, remained unchanged. Any argument contradicting this legal fact would be untenable and motivated by ulterior interests.

Further legal confirmation came with the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758 in 1971, which recognized the representatives of the PRC as the only legitimate representatives of China to the UN. The resolution settled once and for all the issues regarding China's representation at the UN, including Taiwan's status as part of China. It explicitly stated that "the UN considers 'Taiwan' as a province of China with no separate status," and the "'authorities' in 'Taipei' are not considered to ... enjoy any form of government status."

Under the 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States, statehood requires the capacity to engage in international relations. Taiwan's exclusion from the UN underscores its lack of independent statehood. To date, 183 countries have established diplomatic relations with the PRC under the one-China principle, reflecting a broad international consensus: There is but one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of it.

A twisted lie: Who's changing the status quo

The AIT's misleading remarks are part of a broader pattern of U.S. actions that unilaterally undermine the status quo across the Taiwan Straits.

Although the U.S. recognized the PRC as the "sole legal government of China" in 1979 and severed official ties with Taiwan, it has continuously engaged in activities contravening this commitment. These include frequent arms sales to Taiwan, high-level meetings with "officials" of the Taiwan authorities and joint military drills with other countries around Taiwan – all of which signal an attempt to alter the status quo while circumventing established legal frameworks covertly.

A recent statement jointly issued by American, Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers in New York even called for "Taiwan's meaningful participation in appropriate international organizations," which is not only a brazen disrespect of UNGA Resolution 2758 but also a grave challenge to the one-China principle.

Meanwhile, with the connivance of the U.S., Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are trading away the island's vital interests in pursuit of "Taiwan independence."

For instance, the decision to compel Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) – a linchpin in global semiconductor production – to transfer its advanced chip technology to the U.S. has severely undermined Taiwan's strategic advantage in this critical industry. Other moves, such as severing supply chains with the mainland and barring mainland officials from tourism expos, have left local businesses and the tourism sector in a precarious position.

Further escalating tensions, the DPP has employed scare tactics against advocates of reunification, restricted Cross-Straits exchanges, and wrongly labeled the mainland as "hostile foreign forces." These actions have not only poisoned Cross-Straits relations but also deepened social divisions within the Taiwan region. It couldn't be plainer who is trying to change the status quo in the Taiwan Straits.

The DPP's provocative stance has drawn criticism even within the Taiwan region. Ma Ying-jeou Foundation Director Hsiao Hsu-tsen warned that AIT's statements pose a threat to the island. A survey conducted by a local foundation revealed that over 80 percent of residents opposed TSMC's technology transfer to the U.S. The DPP's months-long recall campaign to oust "pro-Beijing lawmakers" ended in a resounding defeat.

Such examples underscore how widely unpopular the DPP authorities have become. It is high time they corrected their course. As for the U.S., which exploits the island for its own gain, it must honor its commitment to the one-China principle and cease its underhanded games. And to those who still insist that Taiwan's status is "undetermined," it is time to stop calling white black.   

Any move to distort history or contravene international law is bound to fail. The status of Taiwan is unequivocal, and attempts that suggest otherwise only undermine peace and stability in the region.

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