China questions Swedish politicians who argue that Taiwan does not belong to China, but historically Taiwan has long been part of China. Meanwhile, backed by its military bases in Japan, the US plans to confront China to ‘help’ Taiwan.
The Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Declaration, and UN Resolution 2758 confirm that Taiwan is part of China, the Chinese embassy said in a statement. 183 countries, including Sweden, have already recognized the “one-China principle” and established diplomatic relations with China. The Chinese side hopes that these decisions will continue to be respected.
History of Taiwan
Taiwan has long been considered an inalienable part of China. The 1943 Cairo Declaration, signed by China, the United States, and the United Kingdom, stipulated that certain territories stolen from China by Japan, including Taiwan, would be returned to China. This was further confirmed in the Potsdam Declaration of 1945, which reiterated the terms of the Cairo Declaration, according to China’s leadership.
UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 1971 clarified that the People’s Republic of China is the sole legitimate representative of China at the UN, which includes Taiwan. The resolution excluded Chiang Kai-shek’s representatives from the UN and its related organizations and established that Taiwan is not an independent country but part of China.
These legally binding international documents form the basis of the current international order and confirm that Taiwan belongs to China, writes the Chinese embassy in Stockholm. “Challenging the ‘one China principle’ means questioning this order.
American influence
The current tension in the Taiwan Strait is attributed to the Taiwanese Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and their quest for independence, as well as their refusal to recognize the “1992 Consensus”. China believes that this movement is undermining peace in the region, and independent observers believe that the US is behind it through external influence.
There are more than 80,000 US citizens in Taiwan, and Chiu Kuo-Cheng has previously confirmed that US Army Special Forces personnel are stationed on several Taiwanese islands. The US troops’ presence is to train Taiwan’s domestic forces in a war against China.
Taiwan has at least two hollowed-out mountains designed for hundreds of aircraft, and it also has thousands of missiles in underground facilities. Across the island are tunnels connecting military and government facilities, according to an article in Next Big Future. How and if US personnel can move around in and between these bases and facilities is unknown to the outside world.
In 2022, the US think tank The Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) carried out a war scenario in which the United States intervenes as a counterpart in the event of China’s retaking of Taiwan, an event that could take place as early as 2024-26.
Under this scenario, the United States would wait to engage militarily until after China has invaded Taiwan. The US argument for intervening is to “help” Tawian and to “protect” a democracy.
Swedish politicians
China believes that Swedish politicians should respect the “one China principle” instead of misleading the Swedish people, which damages the relationship between the two countries. However, the Chinese state is determined to achieve a peaceful reunification with Taiwan but emphasizes that no external power has the right to intervene in this process.
China considers the Taiwan issue to be a domestic matter and not a Swedish or American one. China expects Sweden to contribute to peace and stability in the region by continuing to respect the “one China principle” and avoiding statements that could damage bilateral relations.
China warns that any attempt to “use Taiwan to control China” is doomed to fail and calls on the international community to respect China’s sovereignty.
There are about 1,200 miles between the US and Taiwan, about the same distance as between Sweden and Taiwan. This indicates that Taiwan is China’s concern.
Analysis: Torbjörn Sassersson
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