Q: Regarding the recent situation across the Taiwan Strait, some senior Australian Government officials called for de-escalation of tensions and expressed concern on the risk of miscalculation. Also, some Australian media reported that Taiwan has never actually been ruled by the People's Republic of China. So there’s no reason for China to veto any US officials to visit the island. What is your comment?

A: The causes of the tensions across the Taiwan Strait are very clear, so are the merits. The US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi brazenly went ahead with her visit to China's Taiwan region in disregard of China's strong opposition and solemn representations, seriously violated the one-China principle, maliciously infringed on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and gravely undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. It has sent a serious wrong signal to the separatist forces for ‘Taiwan independence’, directly leading to the escalation of the tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

During the process, all peace-loving and justice-upholding countries in the world should, on the basis of facts and truth, call upon the US to be rational and restrained without miscalculation, to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries, to abide by the one-China principle, which is the consensus of the international community and the basic norm of international relations, and to refrain from engaging in political provocations and undermining regional peace and stability.

It is the firm commitment of the more than 1.4 billion Chinese people to resolutely safeguard state sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is the common aspiration and sacred responsibility of all Chinese around the world to realize the complete reunification of the motherland. The Chinese government has taken all actions to curb the continued development of ‘Taiwan independence’ forces and separatist activities for safeguarding China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The above legitimate and justified actions have received widespread understanding and sympathy in international society, and deserve respect and support.

The one-China principle is the important precondition and political foundation for the establishment and development of diplomatic relations between China and Australia. Signed in 1972, some of the wording and expression from the Joint Communiqué of the Australian Government and the Government of the People’s Republic of China Concerning the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between China and Australia are as follows, I quote ‘the Australian Government recognizes the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China, acknowledges the position of the Chinese Government that Taiwan is a province of the People's Republic of China’. China appreciates the Australian government's commitment to the one-China principle. China always respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Australia. Taiwan question is a major issue concerning China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We hope the Australia side continue abiding by the one-China principle in practice and show its understanding and support on Taiwan question with just stand.

Some Australian media's views on Taiwan's history reflect their lack of basic common sense and are inconsistent with the one-China principle committed by the Australian Government. We hope that the people concerned could abandon their pride and prejudice, and take an objective and impartial view on the relevant history, and refrain from releasing false information  misleading the public.