Regarding comments made by China’s Foreign Ministry after President Lai Ching-te’s National Day address, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) solemnly reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) stand on equal footing, with neither being subordinate to the other. This is the objective status quo. It is also a reality that is recognized by the international community and a strong consensus held by the people of Taiwan.

MOFA emphasizes that following the conclusion of World War II, the Treaty of San Francisco—which has the force of international law—replaced such political statements as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. The treaty did not cede Taiwan to the PRC. The PRC has never governed Taiwan even for a single day and has no right to represent Taiwan in the international community. MOFA urges the Beijing authorities to recognize historical facts instead of distorting them. In particular, MOFA calls on China to refrain from using various anniversary celebrations to engage in united front and lawfare activities with the aim of denying Taiwan’s sovereign status and misleading international public opinion.

MOFA firmly opposes China’s persistent and deliberate misrepresentation of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758. Despite China’s efforts to force the international community to accept its fallacies and exclude Taiwan from the UN system, it is widely acknowledged that UNGA Resolution 2758 only addresses China’s representation in the United Nations. The resolution makes no mention of Taiwan throughout its entire text, does not touch upon Taiwan’s status, and certainly does not authorize China to represent Taiwan. MOFA urges the international community to stand up to China’s coercion and reject its intentional and malicious distortion of UNGA Resolution 2758. It calls for support of Taiwan’s rightful status in the international community and for recognition of Taiwan’s contributions to the world.

President Lai reiterated today that democratic Taiwan was a crucial link for the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific and a responsible member of the international community. As such, he said that Taiwan would work to uphold the status quo, ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and promote the prosperous development of the region.

MOFA echoes President Lai’s call for China to take responsibility as a major power, soberly recognize the devastation that would be visited on the international community with a launch of an invasion of Taiwan, and cease its distortion of UNGA Resolution 2758 and historical World War II documents. It also urges China to end harmful rhetoric that could escalate tensions across the Taiwan Strait, renounce the use of force or coercion to change the cross-strait status quo, jointly contribute to maintaining the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific, and work together to improve people’s well-being.