We noticed that certain Swedish politicians recently presumptuously stated that “China's territorial claim to Taiwan lacks a basis in international law”, accused that China “threatens, provokes and disrupts Taiwan”, advocated that “democracies should fully support Taiwan's democratically elected government and its freedom-loving people”. The above statements are typical political manipulation and a personal show, gravely interfere with China's internal affairs, seriously violate the one-China principle, and infringe on China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Chinese side strongly deplores and firmly opposes this.

Taiwan has been an inseparable part of China since ancient times. The Cairo Declaration jointly issued by the governments of China, the United States and the United Kingdom in 1943 clearly stated that Taiwan, which Japan had stolen from the Chinese, shall be restored to China. The Potsdam Declaration of 1945 to end World War II reiterated in Article 8 that “the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out.” The U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 adopted in 1971 stated that it “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.” The resolution made it clear that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, including Taiwan, at the UN; Taiwan is not a country but a part of China’s territory. It makes clear Taiwan’s status as a non-sovereign entity. The UNGA Resolution 2758 resolved once and for all politically, legally and procedurally the issue of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, at the UN. 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”. These legally-binding international instruments are constituents of the postwar international order. They have further consolidated the historical and legal basis of Taiwan being an inalienable part of Chinese territory. Upholding the one-China principle is safeguarding international order. Challenging the one-China principle is challenging international order, and will meet the joint opposition of the international community.

The Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair. The Taiwan question is a question left over by the civil war in China. Although the two sides across the Taiwan Strait have yet to be reunified, the fact that the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China has never changed, and the sovereignty and territory of China has never been severed. How to achieve national reunification is a matter for the Chinese people on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. We will strive for peaceful reunification with the utmost effort and greatest sincerity, but will absolutely not allow anyone to separate Taiwan from China in any way. Our stance on resolving the Taiwan question and realizing national reunification remains consistent, and our determination is as firm as rock. China will and must achieve reunification. No one or force can hold it back.

The status quo in the Taiwan Strait is that both sides of the Strait belong to one and the same China. Currently, the situation in the Taiwan Strait is complex and severe, and the root cause lies in the fact that the DPP authorities have stubbornly stuck to the separatist position of "Taiwan independence," and have refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus that embodies the one-China principle, and colluded with external forces in successive provocative actions designed to divide the country. “Taiwan independence” and cross-Strait peace and stability are as irreconcilable as fire and water. “Taiwan independence” remains the biggest menace to peace across the Taiwan Strait. To keep the Taiwan Strait peaceful and stable, it is essential to firmly oppose “Taiwan independence”. Those who talk about peace in the Taiwan Strait but refuse to oppose “Taiwan independence” are in effect conniving at and supporting separatist activities, which is bound to have a serious impact on cross-Strait peace and stability. External forces’ interference with China’s internal affairs will lead to nowhere. Using Taiwan to contain China is doomed to fail.

The Taiwan question is the core of China’s core interests. It bears on the political foundation of China-Sweden relations. It is a red line that must not be crossed. 183 countries including Sweden have established and developed diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle. The false remarks by certain Swedish politicians have seriously misled the Swedish people and negatively affected the political mutual trust and friendly cooperation between China and Sweden. The Chinese side hopes that the Swedish side can fully recognize the extreme seriousness and high sensitivity of the Taiwan question, take concrete actions to abide by the one-China principle, and do more things that are conducive to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the development of China-Sweden relations.