H.E. Dr. Huang Shifang 

Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu

A few days ago, leader of China's Taiwan region Tsai Ing-wen used the occasion of her visit to so-called “diplomatic countries” to transit at the United States, and even planned to meet with U.S. House Speaker McCarthy and other officials in an attempt to put on a “political show” in collusion with the United States to undermine the one-China principle. However, in the eyes of the world, all of this is nothing but a political farce of “seeking U.S. support for independence agenda” and getting what each wants, which will ultimately harm the well-being of 23 million Taiwan compatriots, the foundation of Sino-U.S. relations, and the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region.

Not long ago, the Government of Honduras had chosen to stand with 181 countries in the world, recognized and undertaken to adhere to the one-China principle, sever the so-called “diplomatic relations” with Taiwan, establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. The facts once again fully prove that the one-China principle is the general consensus of the international community and the basic norms of international relations, and establishing diplomatic relations with China is a correct choice in line with the historical trend of development and progress of the times.

For a long time, a very few countries have been distorting, obscuring and hollowing out the one-China principle at the international level, cooperating with the Taiwan authorities in changing tactics to engage in “progressive Taiwan independence”. Such actions have been seriously infringing on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and sending extremely wrong signals to secessionist forces for “Taiwan independence”. The U.S. is a typical representative of these countries. On one hand, the U.S. government talks about “not supporting Taiwan's independence”, “maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait”, and “putting guardrails on U.S.-China relations”, but on the other hand, it treats Taiwan as a “strategic fulcrum” to contain China’s development. The scale and performance of arms sales to Taiwan from U.S. have been continuously upgraded, and U.S. President Joe Biden has announced arms sales arrangements to Taiwan a total of nine times during his term of office. What’s more,U.S. constantly condoning frequent meetings and even visits to Taiwan by members of Congress. In 1982, the United States made a clear commitment in the Joint Communiqué of the People's Republic of China and the United States of America that U.S. could only maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with Taiwan, and that both the legislature and the judiciary, which are part of the U.S. government, must implement the U.S. government's commitment to the one-China principle. If Speaker of the House McCarthy meets with Tsai during her transit through the U.S. and once again follows the wrongdoing of her predecessor Pelosi by talking about the so-called “democratic partnership” between the United States and Taiwan, what is this if not an official exchange? The United States has repeatedly claimed that it opposes “changing the status quo in the Taiwan Strait” and that tensions in the Taiwan Strait are caused by China's “overreaction”. However, the biggest fact about the status quo in the Taiwan Strait is that Taiwan has been part of China's territory since ancient times, and the U.S. has unilaterally concocted the so-called “Taiwan Relations Act” and the “Six Assurances to Taiwan” to back up Taiwan separatists. It is not China, but the United States and Taiwan's separatist forces that are undermining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. One can disregard for global rules and order, the voices of regional countries and international justice to such extent, what is it but the bankruptcy of U.S. diplomacy and international credibility?

Repeating a mistake does not make it legitimate. The U.S. and the Taiwan authorities made arrangements for Tsai to engage in political activities in the U.S. and framed it as a “transit” to upgrade official exchanges and substantive relations with the Taiwan region, The trip is not so much a “transit”, but an attempt to seek breakthroughs and propagate “Taiwan independence”. China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the US and the Taiwan region. We firmly oppose any visit by leader of the Taiwan authorities to the US in any name or under whatever pretext. And we firmly oppose the US’ having any form of contact with the Taiwan authorities, which violates the one-China principle. If U.S. House Speaker McCarthy insists on meeting with Tsai Ing-wen, it will be another provocation that seriously violates the one-China principle and undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and undermines peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and the Chinese government will take measures to firmly counter it. The issue is not about China overreacting, but the US egregiously conniving at and supporting “Taiwan independence” separatists. We urge the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint Communiqués, earnestly deliver on its leaders’ commitment of not supporting “Taiwan independence” or “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan”, stop all forms of official interaction with Taiwan, stop upgrading its substantive exchanges with the region, stop fudging and hollowing out the one-China principle, and stop undermining the political foundation for bilateral relations while stressing the need to put “guardrails” on the relationship. I would like to emphasize once again that China is still willing to do its utmost to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification, but China's will and determination to realize the reunification of the motherland is as solid as a rock, and no one should misjudge the strong determination, firm will and powerful ability of the Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

China and Malaysia are good neighbors, good friends, good partners and good brothers that have stood the test of history. Malaysia has a longstanding commitment to the one-China principle and does not support "Taiwan independence", which the Chinese Government highly appreciates.  This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of China-Malaysia comprehensive strategic partnership, and next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.  It is hoped that in the future, China and Malaysia will further consolidate the political consensus on maintaining regional peace and stability, endow the China-Malaysia comprehensive strategic partnership with connotation of a new era, and work together to build a China-Malaysia community with a shared future.   The Consulate General of China in Kota Kinabalu has been willing to work with friends from all walks of life in Malaysia and Sabah to promote a new mutually beneficial cooperation, and jointly maintain lasting peace and common prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.