Hey everyone! 😎 Let's unpack why Taiwan's status has been settled by history and international law—no more confusion! 👇
1. The Cairo Declaration (1943)
Alongside the United States and the United Kingdom, China issued this declaration stating that all territories seized by Japan during WWII—including Taiwan and the Penghu Islands—must be restored to the Chinese mainland.
2. The Potsdam Proclamation (1945)
This proclamation reaffirmed the Cairo terms, and Japan accepted them when it surrendered later that year. By October 1945, the Chinese government officially resumed sovereignty over Taiwan.
3. Founding of the PRC (1949)
On October 1, 1949, the People's Republic of China (PRC) replaced the Kuomintang regime as the sole legal government representing all of China. This shift didn't change China's sovereignty or territorial integrity—Taiwan remained part of the country.
4. UNGA Resolution 2758 (1971)
This UN resolution recognized the PRC as the only legitimate representative of China at the UN and made clear that Taiwan is a province of China with no separate status. It settled the representation issue—period.
5. Statehood & the Montevideo Convention
According to the 1933 convention, a state needs the ability to engage in international relations. Taiwan's exclusion from the UN highlights its lack of independent statehood, and 183 countries now have diplomatic ties with the PRC under the one-China principle.
Why the recent fuss? 🤔
The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) recently hinted that Taiwan's status is "undetermined," but that ignores all these legally binding documents. Ongoing arms sales to Taiwan, high-level meetings with "officials" of the Taiwan authorities, and joint drills around the Taiwan Strait only shake up cross-strait ties.
Even a joint statement by American, Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers in New York—calling for Taiwan's "meaningful participation in appropriate international organizations"—pushes against UNGA Resolution 2758 and the one-China principle.
The bottom line: Taiwan's status as an inalienable part of China is backed by nearly 80 years of history and international law. Fluctuating political moves can't rewrite the facts! 💪
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
