22/05/2026
𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮, 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
Article by H.E. Han Jing, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Zambia
𝘈 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 10 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴
As 2026 marks the 81st anniversary of the recovery of Taiwan from foreign occupation and the 55th anniversary of the restoration of China’s lawful seat in the United Nations, the call for peace, development and exchanges across the Taiwan Strait has grown ever louder.
On April 10, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping met with Cheng Li-wun, Chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Party, in Beijing. This was the first meeting between the leaders of the two parties in the past decade, standing as a milestone for cross-Strait relations and a moment of solidarity for compatriots on both sides of the Strait.
During the meeting, General Secretary Xi stressed that no matter how international landscape and the situation across the Taiwan Strait may evolve, the overarching trend towards the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not change, and the prevailing momentum for the Chinese on both sides of the Strait to come together will not change. He also expressed the readiness to work with all political parties in Taiwan, including the KMT, as well as groups and people from all sectors, to strengthen exchanges and dialogue, promote peace across the Strait, improve the well-being of the people and advance national rejuvenation, on the basis of the common political foundation of adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing “Taiwan independence” and making sure that the future of cross-Strait relations can only be determined by the Chinese people ourselves.
In response, Chairwoman Cheng said that the KMT and the CPC should uphold the common political foundation of adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing “Taiwan independence,” strengthen mutual political trust, preserve the historical heritage of the Chinese nation, promote Chinese culture and expand exchanges and cooperation across all fields. She also called for efforts to strengthen youth exchanges, promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations for a brighter future.
This important meeting sends a clear signal to the rest of the world that the Chinese people have both the wisdom and the capability to resolve the Taiwan question, as it is purely China’s internal affairs. To that end, the Communist Party of China will continue to work for peace across the Strait, well-being of all compatriots on both sides, and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and it will see to it that the momentum for national reunification remains irresistible and irreversible.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 “𝘛𝘢𝘪𝘸𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦”
The one-China principle is not only the political foundation for the development of cross-Strait relations, but also a consensus of the international community.
In 1971, at the 26th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Resolution 2758, proposed by 23 friendly countries, including Zambia, was adopted with an overwhelming majority, which “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.” Since then, all official UN documents have referred to Taiwan as “Taiwan, Province of China.” It was also clearly stated in the official legal opinions of the Office of Legal Affairs of the UN Secretariat that “the United Nations considers ‘Taiwan’ as a province of China with no separate status” and the “ ‘authorities’ in ‘Taipei’ are not considered to enjoy any form of government status.”
As the one-China principle gains stronger support around the world, the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces have become more reckless and anxious, obsessed with political stunt and futile attempts to separate Taiwan from China. Only a few weeks ago, Lai Ching-te attempted to visit Eswatini under the illegal guise of the “President of the Republic of China,” only to be denied overflight rights by multiple African countries. Instead of canceling the trip altogether, Lai chose to sneak onto a foreign special plane and made his way to Eswatini by “smuggling” himself out of the island just hours after the Yilan earthquake, when the people in Taiwan were still reeling from the disaster. Such absurdity ended up a laughing stock in front of the whole world.
On May 15, when asked about the Taiwan question, US president Donald Trump told Fox News at the end of his two-day state visit to China that he was not looking to have somebody go independent. Three days later, the General Committee and the Plenary Session of the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) decided to reject the proposal of “inviting Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer”, marking the 10th year in a row that the WHA has rejected such proposal concerning Taiwan.
These facts once again prove that the one-China principle has long been a basic norm in international relations and prevailing international consensus, and separatist attempts for “Taiwan independence” are universally rejected and doomed to fail.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘢-𝘡𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱
Zambia’s support for the one-China principle and UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 did not come by accident. It has been rooted in the enduring friendship forged through our shared history of fighting for freedom and dignity with blood and sweat.
On October 29, 1964, just five days after gaining independence, Zambia established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, the first country in southern Africa to do so. In 1967, despite severe economic hardships at home, China decided to build TAZARA, the railway of Uhuru that helped the newly independent Zambia and Tanzania defy blockade imposed by the Apartheid regime and embrace national liberation. Chinese experts overcame tremendous difficulties and finally carved out a 1,860-kilometer railway by working shoulder to shoulder with their African brothers and sisters, and some of them were laid to rest on the Continent thousands of miles away from home.
Today, TAZARA and UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 are still hailed as two monuments of enduring China-Zambia and China-Africa friendship, bearing witness to our shared memory of fighting alongside each other for independence and international justice more than half a century ago, and a special connection between us that goes much deeper than any physical infrastructure or political document. Our shared past speaks to the unwavering desire and pursuit of both countries for peace and unity. While China has enshrined national unity and reunification in its Constitution, Zambia has adopted “One Zambia, One Nation” as its national motto.
This valuable tradition of supporting each other in pursuit for national unity shines to this day. In 2023 and 2024, President Hakainde Hichilema met with President Xi Jinping twice in Beijing, where he reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to one-China principle and support for China’s effort to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, a solemn position later confirmed by the China-Zambia Joint Statement on Establishing the Comprehensive Strategic and Cooperative Partnership in 2023 and reiterated by a number of senior government officials, including Her Honour Vice President Mutale Nalumango and former Foreign Minister Hon. Mulambo Haimbe.
Zambia is not alone in Africa. Across the Continent, the one-China principle has long been widely respected and practiced. In September 2024, the Heads of State, Government and delegation of China and 53 African countries and Chairperson of the African Union Commission gathered in Beijing and released the Beijing Declaration on Jointly Building an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era, where Africa’s support for the one-China principle was once again confirmed. In January this year, Chairperson of the African Union Commission H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said in an exclusive interview, “I believe China’s borders are as sacred as those of African countries...We face the same challenges in this continent, and that is why, on the issue of the one-China principle, we will stand with China forever.”
Today, the one-China principle has become a solid cornerstone of international equity and justice rather than a political slogan. China is deeply grateful to Zambia and other friendly countries for the unwavering support over more than half a century, and it has full confidence over its eventual national reunification. We also believe that countries who are yet to establish diplomatic relations with China will soon follow the prevailing trend and join the vast majority of the international community in upholding the one-China principle. China stands ready to work with all countries around the globe to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, promote the development of the international system toward a more just and equitable direction, and contribute more positive energy to world peace and development.
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