Reiterating its previous stance, the People’s Republic of China views Taiwan’s independence as a grave danger to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
During Thursday’s Media Salon in Abuja, Zhu Songbo, chief of the political section of the Chinese embassy in Nigeria, made this statement about the one-China principle as the foundation of China-Nigeria relations.
Based on what Zhu said, the People’s Republic of China government is the only legitimate representation of all of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. This is in accordance with the one-China principle, which asserts that there is only one China in the world.
According to Zhu, the one-China principle is something that every country with diplomatic ties to China and every UN member state must adhere to without reservation. He went on to say that this principle’s application is universal, unconditional, and undeniable.
Regarding Nigeria’s position on the Taiwan issue, Zhu praised the nation’s dedication to the one-China principle, pointing to the actions taken by Nigeria, such as moving the Taiwan Trade Office from Abuja, as evidence.
The one-China principle is what China values, and Nigeria has been following it. Keeping this idea in mind, he hoped that Nigeria would back China’s attempts at national reunification.
Chinese and Taiwanese people are really one and the same, according to Charles Onunaiju, director of the Centre for China Studies, who spoke at the event.
As he pointed out, Nigeria has never wavered from its recognition of the People’s Republic of China as the only lawful representative of China when it comes to the One-China principle.
According to him, the main goal of the Taiwan Trade Office in Lagos is to foster economic and commercial relations between Taiwan and Nigeria. It is not an embassy, but rather a trade facilitation agency.
China is not alone in its opposition to Taiwan’s independence, according to Professor Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim of the University of Abuja’s Department of Political Science and International Relations.
Professor Ibrahim went on to say that no nation will tolerate separatist movements that threaten its sovereignty and territory.
He claims that anti-secession laws and other statutes and frameworks bolster the One-China policy, which acknowledges the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate representative of China (with Taiwan included in this recognition). This is in accordance with 1971’s United Nations Resolution 2758.
“Deng Xiaoping proposed the idea of “One Country, Two Systems” to achieve peaceful reunification and allow different systems to coexist within a unified China,” he asserted.
Reporters should proceed with care and responsibility when covering delicate topics like the Taiwan question, according to Austin Maho, a professor at the International Institute of Journalism. The media has a significant impact on public opinion and society.
He emphasized once again that journalists should be cognizant of the fact that the People’s Republic of China views Taiwan independence as an insurmountable red line.
“In order to present fair and unbiased reporting, media professionals should have a solid grasp of the tensions between China and Nigeria. They should also refrain from using the term “country” to describe Taiwan or advocating for closer ties between the two countries,” he emphasized.