PNG Mainstream Media Publishes One-China Principle Special Edition （From Chinese Embassy in Papua New Guinea）

Recently, PNG's mainstream media Post-Courier and The National published one-China principle special edition. H.E. Zeng Fanhua, Chinese Ambassador to PNG published an article "Strengthen Foundation of the One-China Principle, Create Brighter Future for China-PNG Relations Together" in the special edition. The special edition also published message and statements from Mr. Elias Wohengu, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and representatives from all walks of life, who reaffirmed PNG's firm adherence to the one-China policy.

Secretary Wohengu said that, Papua New Guinea reaffirms its longstanding traditional commitment to the one-China policy,  and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, that PNG opposes "Taiwan independence", and that it supports all efforts made by the Government of the People's Republic of China to realize reunification.

The full text of Ambassador Zeng's article is as follows.

Last month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited PNG successfully. He met Prime Minister Hon. James Marape and Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko, and the visit achieved fruitful and practical outcomes. The most important political agreement reaffirmed is that China and PNG will continue to trust and support each other, and firmly uphold and grow the comprehensive strategic partnership. PNG leaders reaffirmed the one-China principle. Prime Minister Marape and Foreign Minister Tkatchenko emphasized that PNG will never waver from its firm commitment to one-China policy, and will maintain friendship with China under all circumstances. Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed China's staunch support to PNG in safeguarding its sovereign independence and national unity, accelerating national revitalization and improving people's livelihood, and playing a bigger role in regional and multilateral affairs. 

It is precisely because both sides have always stood firmly by each other on issues related to their core interests, respected each other in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, that the China-PNG relations can keep moving forward on a solid political foundation.

There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. These three sentences make up the one-China principle, which has long become a universal consensus of the international community and a basic norm in international relations.

Taiwan has been a part of China since ancient times. As early as 230 AD, China already had records about Taiwan. Starting from the mid-12th century, China began to exercise jurisdiction over Taiwan. In 1894, Japan occupied Taiwan through war and unequal treaties. In 1945, Japan announced its surrender and the Chinese government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan. On October 1, 1949, the People's Republic of China was founded, and the Central People's Government became the only legitimate government of the whole of China. As a natural result, the Government of the PRC shall enjoy and exercise China's full sovereignty, including Taiwan. As a result of interference of external forces, the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have fallen into a state of protracted political confrontation. But the sovereignty and territory of China have never been divided, and Taiwan's status as part of China's territory has never changed. In fact, the then KMT authorities in Taiwan also maintained that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belongs to one China.

In October 1971, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, which undertook "to restore all its rights to the People's Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it". This resolution settled once and for all the political, legal and procedural issues of China's representation in the UN. On the basis of the one-China policy, 183 countries have established diplomatic relations with China, the latest among them is Nauru, PNG's neighbor in the Pacific. On 24th January this year, China restored diplomatic relations with Nauru, another testament to the one-China principle as a universal consensus of the international community.

The biggest challenge for the stability of cross-Strait situation comes from "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference. The Chinese Government has always exerted utmost efforts with the greatest sincerity to achieve peaceful reunification. Yet Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party has refused to recognize the one-China principle, and some external forces attempted to contain China by challenging the one-China principle and making deliberate provocations, such as having "official" exchanges with Taiwan, increasing arms sales to Taiwan, helping Taiwan expand its so called "international space". These acts have undermined peace and stability and are at the root of the tension across the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan has never been and will never be a country. The Taiwan question is one hundred percent China's internal matter. Taiwan will eventually return to the embrace of the motherland and the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will surely achieve reunification. It is the firm will of the 1.4 billion Chinese people and an inevitable trend of history. 

On 12 October 1976, based on one-China principle, China and PNG established diplomatic relations. The Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and PNG, which was signed by then Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare in Beijing states that the two Governments have agreed to develop diplomatic relations, friendship and cooperation on the basis of the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful co-existence. Since then, all successive PNG Governments have adhered to the one-China principle. Last year, PNG closed its trade office in Taipei. Last October, our two countries issued a joint statement in which PNG reaffirms its longstanding traditional commitment to the one-China policy, and that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, that PNG opposes "Taiwan independence" and that it supports all efforts made by the Government of the People's Republic of China to realize reunification. 

PNG's adherence to one-China principle has been the political precondition and fundamental guarantee for the rapid development of China-PNG relations. In recent years, with the strategic guidance of our leaders and the joint efforts of the two sides, new progress continues to be achieved in China-PNG cooperation.

High-level exchanges became closer, and political mutual trust has strengthened. Prime Minister Marape attended the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and paid an official visit to China in October 2023. More than a dozen PNG ministers, governors and MPs visited China. Chinese Foreign Minister, Governor of Guangdong Province, Education Minister and other officials visited PNG. A delegation from the Communist Party of China successfully visited PNG last October, injecting vitality into party-to-party exchanges between our two countries.

Our practical cooperation kept deepening and common interests expanded. During Prime Minister's visit to China last year, 10 cooperation documents were signed in the field of development cooperation, infrastructure, climate change, education, energy and so on. Last month, our two Foreign Ministers witnessed the signing of 5 cooperation documents in the field of disaster relief, bilateral trade, agriculture and ICT. China recently donated 1.1 million US dollars of disaster relief assistance and a large number of disaster relief supplies to PNG, helping the PNG people effected by the natural disasters through the difficult times. Our free trade agreement negotiation has made positive progress. PNG's unroasted cocoa and coffee beans can be exported to China directly. PNG's LNG is being loaded on vessels to China. In the future, we will see more Chinese companies invest in PNG, bring more revenue and employment.

Our people-to-people exchanges has seen a good momentum, and friendship between our peoples further deepened. The direct flight between Guangzhou and Port Moresby launched last December, and will increase from 1 to 3 flights per week very soon. University of Goroka has signed cooperation MOU with Beijing Normal University. UPNG is communicating with Shenzhen University. The Department of Defense has started the second Chinese language training course. Representatives of teachers and students from Butuka Academy went to China for a cultural exchange program for the first time. There will be more opportunities for our young people to visit each other. The 13th Chinese medical team went to several provinces and villages to provide medical service, not only helping local people, but also training local doctors.

In conclusion, China and PNG share common values and thinkings, deep political mutual trust, high economic complementary and solid foundation for broader cooperation. The Chinese side looks forward to working with all PNG friends to further consolidate political foundation of one-China principle, strengthen mutual trust and mutual support, achieve common development and prosperity, enhance the well-being of our people and hand in hand create a brighter future for the China-PNG comprehensive strategic partnership.