The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly opened in New York on 10th September.

Recently, I have noticed some falsehood about United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758. UNGA Resolution 2758 was voted and adopted at the 26th session of the UN General Assembly on the issue of restoring the legitimate rights of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations. I believe it is necessary to present the truth about Taiwan’s history to Nigerian readers.

Taiwan is not a country. It has been an inalienable part of China’s territory since ancient times.

As early as 230 A.D., there were references to Taiwan in Chinese literature during the Three Kingdoms Period. After the Song and Yuan Dynasties (10th-14th Century), successive Chinese central governments exercised administrative jurisdiction over the Penghu and Taiwan regions. In 1885, Taiwan was re-established as a province, which was China’s 20th province at that time. In 1895, Japan began its colonial rule over Taiwan through a war of invasion. The Cairo Declaration issued by China, the United States and the United Kingdom in 1943 stated that it was the purpose of the three allies that all the territories Japan had stolen from China, such as Northeast China, Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, should be restored to China. The Potsdam Proclamation was signed by China, the United States and the United Kingdom in 1945 reiterated that “The terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out.” In September of the same year, Japan signed the instrument of surrender, in which it promised that it would faithfully fulfill the obligations laid down in the Potsdam Proclamation. On October 1st, 1949, the People’s Republic of China was founded, and became the only legitimate government of the whole of China. From what I have mentioned above about history, compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share the same lineage, the same roots and the same culture. We have always respected, cared for and benefited our compatriots in Taiwan, and we have continued to deepen cross-Strait exchanges, cooperation, integration and development, and to share development opportunities.

Any voice questioning UNGA Resolution 2758 is “sailing against the current”.

In October 1971, the 26th Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, which “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, and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it.” UNGA Resolution 2758 made it clear politically, legally, and procedurally that there is only one China in the world. The resolution also made clear that there can only be one seat representing China at the UN and precluded the possibility of “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.”

Taiwan, as a province of China, has no basis, reason or right to join the UN or its relevant agencies. At present, 183 countries, including Nigeria, have affirmed the One-China principle in diplomatic communiqués, joint statements and other political documents with China. These facts fully demonstrate that the one-China principle is where global opinion trends and where the arc of history bends. Any voice questioning UNGA Resolution 2758 is against the trends and history, and is doomed to failure.

China and Nigeria join hands on the path to a brighter future.

The People’s Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Nigeria established diplomatic relations on February 10, 1971, and the Joint Communiqué on the establishment states that “the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole lawful Government representing the entire Chinese people.” Since then, the bilateral relations have developed robustly and smoothly on the basis of the one-China Principle. Recently, President Tinubu was invited to visit China and attend the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and the Nigerian side reaffirmed in the China-Nigerian Joint Statement that “firmly adheres to the one-China principle, acknowledges that there is but one China in the world, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. Nigeria opposes any form of ‘Taiwan independence’ or interference in the internal affairs of China and firmly supports all efforts made by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification.” and the Chinese side supports the Renewed Hope Agenda of Nigeria and the efforts made by Nigeria to maintain national unity, peace, security, and social stability, as well as promote economic development and improve people’s welfare.

FOCAC was a remarkable event, attended by the leaders of 53 out of 54 African countries that have established diplomatic relations with China, along with nearly 6,000 Chinese and foreign guests. The summit adopted by consensus the Beijing Declaration on Jointly Building an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era, which clearly states that “Africa reaffirms its firm commitment to the one-China principle, and reaffirms that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory and the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and firmly supports all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification.” the FOCAC has created strong momentum in favour of one-China principle.

Mutual support and joint efforts over the past 53 years between China and Nigeria have led to fruitful cooperation between the two countries in various fields. Nigeria has become China’s largest engineering contracting market in Africa, the second largest export market, the third largest trading partner and a major investment destination country, with bilateral trade volume reaching a remarkable level of $22.56 billion in 2023. Chinese companies have been actively participating in projects such as the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Dangote Refinery, the Lagos Blue and Red Line Light Rail, the Lagos-Ibadan Railway and so on, significantly promoting local economic and social development, and improving people’s livelihoods. Standing on a new historical point, China and Nigeria, under the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, will deepen mutual trust and cooperation in various fields, firmly support each other’s core interests, join hands to build a high-level China-Nigeria Community with a shared future, and uphold a new international order based on equity and justice.