University lecturers, policy analysts and newspaper editors have urged reporters to be mindful of referring to Taiwan as a country, saying it is an integral part of China.
They stated this, Thursday, during a media salon on the “One-China Policy as the bedrock of China-Nigeria relations” held at the China General Chamber of Commerce, Airport Road, Abuja.
Speaking on the historical foundations and diplomatic significance of the One-China Principle, Director, Centre for China Studies, Charles Onunaiju, said China has its own history, just like every other country, but that Taiwan is part of China and not recognised as an independent country.
While presenting a paper on economic and trade implications of the One-China Principle, Head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations, UniAbuja and Director, Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research, Prof Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, said Nigeria has maintained an economic relationship with China as a country and not Taiwan.
On his part, a lecturer at the International Institute of Journalism and Publisher Daybreak Newspapers and The Dragon Magazine, Dr Austin Maho, who presented a paper on the Role of the Nigerian Media in Reporting the Taiwan Question, said many countries, including the United States, adhere to the One-China policy, which recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate government of China, while maintaining unofficial relations with Taiwan.
“Taiwan largely operates as an independent country, with its own government, economy, and military. However, Taiwan’s status as a sovereign state is disputed, and it is not recognized by the United Nations (UN) as a separate country. Many countries, including the United States, adhere to the One-China policy, which recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate government of China, while maintaining unofficial relations with Taiwan,” he said.
Similarly, Chief of Political Section, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Zhu Songbo, said ‘Taiwan Question’ concerns China’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national sentiment, saying it is an extremely serious and sensitive question which should not have any ambiguity and could not be argued or challenged.
“To date, 183 countries including Nigeria have established diplomatic relations with the PRC on the basis of the one-China principle. We are one China, and Taiwan is part of China. This is an indisputable fact supported by history and the law. Taiwan has never been a state; its status as part of China is unalterable,” he said.