•After Japan's defeat in World War II, Taiwan was returned to Chinese control as per the Cairo Declaration of 1943 and the Potsdam Declaration of 1945
•Any international recognition of Taiwan as a separate entity as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Image: XINHUA
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has been on a planned visit to China from August 27 to 29. China termed the visit, the first by a National Security Advisor to the US President after eight years, as "a critical juncture" to "stabilise” the relationship between the two biggest economies.
According to a statement released by Beijing on Sunday, “the Taiwan question is the first and foremost red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations.” The statement also urged the US to abide by the One-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués, and honour its commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence.”
Supporting China's claim to Taiwan is rooted in several historical, legal and political arguments that China has consistently presented. China asserts that Taiwan has been an integral part of its territory for centuries. The Qing Dynasty formally annexed Taiwan in 1683, and it remained under Chinese control until 1895, when it was ceded to Japan after China's defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War.
After Japan's defeat in World War II, Taiwan was returned to Chinese control as per the Cairo Declaration of 1943 and the Potsdam Declaration of 1945, which stated that territories seized by Japan, including Taiwan, should be returned to China. Therefore, from a historical standpoint, China's claim is based on a continuity of sovereignty, interrupted only by a brief period of Japanese occupation.
China's claim is further supported by international agreements and understandings at the conclusion of World War II. The Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Declaration, both of which are recognised by international law, stipulated that Taiwan should be returned to China.
Although the Treaty of San Francisco in 1951 and the Treaty of Taipei in 1952 did not explicitly name China as the recipient of Taiwan, they also did not assign Taiwan to any other state, leaving the status of Taiwan as unresolved. These treaties, therefore, implicitly endorse China’s claim, especially considering that Taiwan was effectively administered by the Republic of China after 1945.
ONE NATION
Taiwan's separation from the mainland could encourage other secessionist movements within China, threatening national unity.
China has consistently maintained that there is only one China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of it. The Peoples Republic of China (PRC), established in 1949, is recognised by the United Nations as the sole legal government of China, which gives Beijing sovereignty over all Chinese territories, including Taiwan. The One-China Principle is a cornerstone of Chinese foreign policy, and the PRC views any international recognition of Taiwan as a separate entity as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Over the past few decades, China has developed significant economic ties with Taiwan, with cross-strait trade and investment growing exponentially. Proponents of China’s claim argue that this economic interdependence naturally strengthens the case for political unification. Furthermore, Beijing has proposed the "One Country, Two Systems" framework, which has been used in Hong Kong and Macau, as a potential model for Taiwan. This framework, China argues, would allow Taiwan to maintain a high degree of autonomy while recognising Chinese sovereignty, thereby ensuring stability and continuity.
China views Taiwan's status as a core national interest, crucial to its territorial integrity and national security. From Beijing's perspective, Taiwan's separation from the mainland could encourage other secessionist movements within China, threatening national unity. Additionally, Taiwan's strategic location in the Asia-Pacific region makes it a critical area of concern for China's defense strategy. Reasserting control over Taiwan would allow China to secure its maritime boundaries and enhance its geopolitical influence in the region.
From the perspective of historical continuity, legal agreements, the One-China Principle, economic integration, and geopolitical strategy, China’s claim to Taiwan is deeply rooted in its national narrative and legal framework. Ultimately, there is a bigger picture here for the world. Recognising China's sovereignty over Taiwan is essential for maintaining international peace, regional stability and respecting historical agreements.
The writer is the Executive Director of South-South Dialogues, a Nairobi-based communications development think tank, and a PhD student at the United States International University-Africa.