New York, Sep 29 (DPA) China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has asked the United Nations to “oppose and repulse” Taiwan’s campaign to gain UN membership, and warned countries supporting Taiwan.
Yang Friday spoke strongly about not permitting any challenges to the so-called “one China” policy and UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, which in 1971 ousted the Republic of China on Taiwan from the UN and gave the seat to the People’s Republic of China.
The Republic of China was one of 50 founders of the world body in 1945 when it was still in power in mainland China. But communist forces under Mao Zedong defeated nationalist troops under Chiang Kaishek, leader of the Republic of China, and drove them to the island of Taiwan in 1949.
“We hope the international community will continue to support China’s cause of peaceful reunification, support the Chinese people in opposing and repulsing separatist activities for Taiwan independence and work with us to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and in the Asian Pacific region,” Yang said in an address to the UN General Assembly.
The Taipei government this year reissued its application to enter the world organisation under the name of Taiwan — dropping the name Republic of China that it used in applications for the past 14 years — in an effort to distance itself from mainland China.
Beijing authorities considered the Taiwanese move a further indication of it moving toward independence, which Beijing strongly opposes and has threatened to use force to stop.
“If unchecked, this move will gravely endanger peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and in the Asian Pacific region,” Yang said. He said his government would “never” allow separation by Taiwan.
Yang used the opportunity of his presence in the UN to warn the 24 small and impoverished nations that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan to “stop making such erroneous moves”.