Xu Xiaobing

Opinion | G7 is wrong: threat to Taiwan peace is not reunification but secession

China will reunite with Taiwan; whether peacefully or militarily, this is its own legitimate business

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Supporters of Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) at a rally in Yilan county on December 21. The DPP government has been accused of moving towards secession through salami-slicing tactics. Photo: AFP

Xu Xiaobing

Published: 9:30am, 31 Dec 2023Updated: 10:34am, 31 Dec 2023

The latest G7 leaders’ statement, released on December 6, called again for a “peaceful resolution” of issues across the Taiwan Strait while claiming no change in their “one China policies”.

This statement is hypocritical, mendacious and deceptive at best, and dangerous at worst. It is hypocritical to call for a peaceful resolution without giving due respect to China’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and internal affairs.

The sovereignty, territorial integrity and internal affairs of a state are enshrined in the UN Charter as the fundamental principles of international law. Any sovereign state’s reunification or fight against secession, whether through peaceful or non-peaceful means, is therefore its legitimate right and within its internal affairs. It is not a threat to peace.

It is secession that is a threat to peace, as it constitutes a gross violation of both national and international laws.

While China favours and strives for peaceful reunification, it will not hesitate to employ non-peaceful means to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to its Anti-Secession Law, should Taiwan’s secession occur or the possibilities for a peaceful reunification be completely exhausted.

The G7 statement is mendacious as it intentionally distorts the history and nature of cross-strait relations.