On 17 May 2024, Minister Yang Xiaoguang at the Chinese Embassy hosted a briefing for Chinese and foreign media on China’s principled position on the Taiwan question.

Minister Yang introduced the history of the Taiwan question. He pointed out that Taiwan has been an inalienable part of China’s territory since ancient times. Since 1949, due to continued civil war in China and the meddling of external forces, the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have fallen into protracted political confrontation. However, China's sovereignty and territory have never and can never be divided. And Taiwan's status as part of China's territory has never and can never change. The UNGA Resolution 2758 adopted in 1971 resolved once and for all the question of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan in the United Nations as a political, legal and procedural issue. It affirms that there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan is a part of it, not a country. It also makes clear that China has a single seat in the United Nations, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal representative, precluding “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan”. The one-China principle is the fundamental prerequisite and political foundation on which China establishes and develops relations with all countries. From the very first country that established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China to the 183rd, namely Nauru, they have all made political commitment to adhering to the one-China principle.

Minister Yang said that for some time now, a small number of Western countries, including the US, have been deliberately distorting and challenging Resolution 2758, trumpeting the notion that “Taiwan's status is undetermined” and advocating support for Taiwan's participation in UN conferences and activities, with the purpose of distorting, obscuring or hollowing out the one-China principle. This is, in essence, using Taiwan as a tool and playing the “Taiwan card” to contain China. The Chinese side is firmly opposed to this, and the attempts by the US will never succeed.

Minister Yang pointed out that the Taiwan question has always been a sensitive matter at the centre of relations between China and the UK. The two countries began to explore diplomatic ties in the early 1950s. But it was not until 1972 that the relationship was upgraded to the ambassadorial level principally because of the Taiwan question. Full diplomatic relations had to wait until the UK in the 1972 joint communiqué clearly recognised the Chinese government's position that Taiwan is a province of the People's Republic of China, decided to revoke its official representative office on the island on 13 March 1972 and recognised the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China. This part of the history should never be forgotten. The UK must abide by its commitment and handle Taiwan-related issues properly and in strict accordance with the one-China principle.

On the “inauguration ceremony” to be held on 20 May in Taiwan, Minister Yang said that in January this year, the Taiwan region elected its new leaders. Whatever the result of the elections in the Taiwan region, it has in no way changed the basic fact that Taiwan is part of China and that there is only one China in the world. And it will never change the historical trend that China will eventually be reunified. We are firmly opposed to official contact between countries having diplomatic relations with China and the Taiwan authorities under any pretext and to the participation of the Taiwan authorities in UN institutions or relevant activities. We urge the UK Government to abide by the one-China principle and properly and prudently deal with issues related to Taiwan.

Minister Yang also answered questions from the media. Chinese and foreign journalists from Sky News, The Guardian, People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency, China Central Television, CGTN, China Daily, China News Service, and Phoenix TV took part in the briefing.