20.73 Magnificent Years of Friendship between China and Pakistan III
Dr. Syed Mehboob
Senior Business and Political Analyst
http//: www.thenewslark.com
China Pakistan Friendship is all weather. Both countries stood by for each other whenever it needed. In 2022, when Pakistan was hit by floods, China spared no effort in providing aid. During evacuation operations in Yemen and South Sudan, Chinese warships evacuated hundreds of Pakistani citizens, while Pakistani warships also assisted in the evacuation of numerous Chinese students. Chinese President Xi Jinping once said during his visit to Pakistan: "having gone through weal and woe together, we couldn’t feel more gratified to have each other as great neighbor and friend. It is absolutely true and time has proved it. China and Pakistan maintain close cooperation and coordination within frameworks such as the United Nations (UNO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO). Both countries actively engaged in trilateral foreign minister dialogues with Afghanistan. Pakistan, along with China, is committed to promoting the implementation of President Xi Jinping's Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative. Pakistan takes the lead in implementing these initiatives, jointly promoting the development of global governance towards a more just and equitable direction. Regarding Taiwan, Pakistan’s position is very clear and it believes ONE CHINA and its integrity is highly important for Pakistan and is a main pillar of its foreign policy. Over the past 73 years, Pakistan has steadfastly adhered to the one-China principle, firmly supporting the Chinese government's efforts to achieve national reunification and opposing any form of ''Taiwan Separation which is illegal “and is western agenda. China highly appreciates Pakistan's stance on this matter. Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times. The ancestors of most of the residents in Taiwan came from the mainland of China. Successive Chinese governments have established administrative institutions in Taiwan and exercised jurisdiction over it. After the Opium War in 1840, Western powers invaded China. In 1894, Japan launched the First Sino-Japanese War of aggression against China and forced the Qing government to cede Taiwan the following year. During the half-century of Japanese occupation of Taiwan, the Taiwanese people never ceased their resistance. In 1943, during the 2nd world war, the Cairo Declaration jointly issued by the governments of China, the United States and the United Kingdom clearly stated that Taiwan, which was stolen from the Chinese, shall be restored to China. In 1945, the Potsdam Proclamation to end World War II reiterated that ''the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out.'' In the same year, the Chinese government announced that it was resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan, thereby legally and factually recovering Taiwan. Although the two sides of the strait are in a long-term political confrontation, the fact that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China has never changed, and China's sovereignty and territorial integrity have never been divided. The Taiwan question is entirely China's internal affair. Taiwan has never been and will never be a country. On Oct. 25, 1971, the 26th session of the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority. It states in black and white that the General Assembly "decides 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. The Resolution 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 made clear that there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan is a part of China, not a country. From the first country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, to the 183rd country, Nauru, all have politically committed to adhering to the one-China principle and have included it in their diplomatic documents such as joint communiqués and statements with China. They have all severed so-called "diplomatic" relations with Taiwan. This fully demonstrates that adhering to the one-China principle is in line with international justice, the will of the people, and the trend of the times. Peaceful reunification and One Country, Two Systems are is the basic principles for resolving the Taiwan question. National reunification by peaceful means is the first choice of the Chinese government in resolving the Taiwan question, as it best serves the interests of the Chinese nation as a whole. China is by all means ready to create vast space for peaceful reunification; but it will leave no room for separatist activities in any form. It will strive for peaceful reunification with the utmost effort and greatest sincerity. In the meantime, its bottom line is also clear: it will absolutely not allow anyone to separate Taiwan from China in any way.
At present, the cross-Strait situation faces serious challenges. The challenge comes from "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external disruptions. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have adopted a separatist stance, and colluded with external forces in successive provocative actions designed to divide the country. They have steadily built up their military forces with the intention of pursuing "independence" and preventing reunification by force, and employ various means to achieve so-called "diplomatic" breakthroughs serving the purpose of "Taiwan independence" and severely harm the fundamental interests of people in Taiwan, triggering strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition from both sides of the strait. The DPP authorities and certain country have been deliberately distorting and challenging UNGA Resolution 2758, trumpeting the notion that Taiwan’s status is undetermined, and advocating support for Taiwan’s participation in the United Nations multilateral forums, including The World Health Assembly）. These moves mislead international public opinion and challenge the one-China consensus among the international community. They trample on the international law and basic norms governing international relations, and seek to turn back the wheel of history. Such attempts will not succeed. Completing reunification of Chinese motherland is the shared aspiration of the people, the trend of the times and a historical inevitability, and no force can stop it. Any attempt to use the Taiwan question as a pretext to interfere in China's internal affairs or obstruct China's reunification will meet with the resolute opposition of the Chinese people, including their compatriots in Taiwan. No one should underestimate China’s resolve, will and ability to defend China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Taiwan question is at the core of China's interests. Pakistan's successive governments have consistently adhered to the One China principle and firmly supported China in safeguarding its core interests. In 1971, Pakistan co-sponsored UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, firmly supporting the restoration of the People's Republic of China's lawful rights in the United Nations, further consolidating the political foundation for bilateral exchanges. During meetings between leaders of Pakistan and China, including Presidents and Prime Ministers, supporting China in safeguarding its core interests, including Taiwan, has been a topic of discussion. Joint press releases and other political documents clearly state Pakistan's firm adherence to the one-China principle. In August 2022, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement regarding the visit of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the Taiwan region of China, reaffirming Pakistan's steadfast adherence to the one-China principle and firm support for China in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Chinese people appreciate it so much. China firmly believes that Pakistan will stay committed to the one-China principle and support the Chinese people’s just cause of opposing “Taiwan separation” and separatist activities and striving for national reunification. China will ultimately achieve complete reunification, and Taiwan is bound to return to the embrace of the motherland.
Similarly, Pakistan always received Chinese support over Kashmir issue and China believes that Kashmir problem must be resolved peacefully according to the United Nation’s resolutions.