Q: On 2 August, in disregard of China’s strong opposition and serious representations, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited China’s Taiwan region. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis immediately tweeted that “Pelosi has opened the door to Taiwan much wider, I am sure that other defenders of freedom and democracy will be walking through very soon.” What is China's comment?

A: In defiance of worldwide condemnation, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi brazenly went ahead with her visit to China's Taiwan region. This move seriously violates the one-China principle, maliciously infringes on China's sovereignty and blatantly engages in political provocations, which has aroused strong indignation among the Chinese people and widespread opposition from the international community. Those erroneous remarks made by some Lithuanian politicians further undermine the bilateral relations between China and Lithuania, and damage the credibility of the Lithuanian country and the fundamental interests of its people. It should be pointed out that Lithuania deliberately caters to certain countries and group forces, manipulates ideology and confrontation between the East and the West will only lead to conflict and confrontation. Lithuania violates the one-China principle and basic norms governing international relations, and condones "Taiwan independence" separatist acts will only further escalate tensions across the Taiwan Strait and undermine regional peace and stability. Seeking “Taiwan independence” leads to a dead end, so does supporting “Taiwan independence.” 

As we all know, there is only 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 only legitimate government representing the whole of China. This is the core content of the one-China principle, the core essence of the three Sino-US joint communiqués, and the premise and foundation for the establishment and development of diplomatic relations between China and the US. In the "Shanghai Communiqué" published in 1972, the US made it very clear that “the United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States Government does not challenge that position.” These US commitments led to the start of the process toward normalization of China-US relations. According to the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China released in 1978, the US “recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China” and “acknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China”. And in the August 17 Joint Communiqué of 1982, the US side made it clear that “the United States of America recognized the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China, and it acknowledged the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China.” Also in that communiqué, the US “reiterates that it has no intention of infringing on Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity, or interfering in China’s internal affairs, or pursuing a policy of ‘two Chinas’ or ‘one China, one Taiwan’.” It is based on those three Joint Communiqués that China-US relationship have generally achieved stable development in the past 40-plus years.

US Congress, as a part of the U.S. Government, is inherently obliged to strictly observe the one-China policy of the U.S. Government and refrain from having any official exchanges with China’s Taiwan region. Since Speaker Pelosi is the incumbent leader of the U.S. Congress and the second-in-line successor to the U.S. President, her visit to and activities in Taiwan, in whatever form and for whatever reason, is a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiqués. This move has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and gravely undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Pelosi’s visit is an ugly political stunt. It will not change the historical and legal reality that Taiwan belongs to China. It will not stop the reunification course of China and will not change the fact that 181 countries in the world recognize and support the one-China principle.

The Taiwan question is the most important and most sensitive issue at the very core of China-U.S. relations. The Taiwan Strait is now facing a new round of tensions and severe challenges, and the fundamental cause is the repeated moves by the Taiwan authorities and the United States to change the status quo. The Taiwan authorities have kept seeking U.S. support for their independence agenda. They refuse to recognize the 1992 Consensus, go all out to push forward “de-sinicization”, and promote “incremental independence”. The U.S. is inconsistent in its words and deeds, aggressively promoting "Taiwan to control China," constantly distorting and hollowing out the one-China principle, unscrupulously playing the "Taiwan card", and maliciously fueling the arrogance of the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. In the face of these moves, China will not sit idly by and will have to make legitimate and necessary responses.

The historical ins and outs of the Taiwan question are crystal-clear, so are the facts and status quo that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China. The complete reunification of China is the trend of the times and an inevitability of history. We will leave no room for the "Taiwan independence" forces and external interference.No matter how the United States supports or connives at the "Taiwan independence" forces, it will be all in vain. The United States will only leave more ugly records of gross meddling in other countries' internal affairs in history. Pelosi's visit to Taiwan will not widen the door to Taiwan for the so-called "defenders of freedom and democracy", but will only accelerate the historical process of China's reunification.

The Taiwan question arose when China was weak and chaotic, and will surely end with its national rejuvenation. In the face of the great cause of national unification, the Chinese people have the gut not to be misled by fallacies or scared by evils, the ambition to never be intimidated or crushed, the determination to unite as one, and the ability to resolutely safeguard its national sovereignty and national dignity.

In the past few days, many a countries, international organizations and people of insight have issued statements and speeches, affirming their adherence to the one-China principle, and believing that Pelosi's visit to Taiwan is a blatant provocation of China's national sovereignty and seriously undermined the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, and supporting China's righteous move to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on August 3: "Our position is very clear. We abide by General Assembly resolutions, by the one-China policy, and that is the orientation that we have in everything we do." 

We once again urge Lithuanian politicians to recognize the gravely detrimental nature of Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, stop making wrong remarks about Taiwan, stop sending wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, return to the correct path of upholding the one-China principle, and avoid adding new burdens to an already fragile bilateral relationship.