United Nations (People’s Daily) - China’s UN envoy told the media on Friday that the one-China principle allows no challenge or distortion and playing with fire on the Taiwan question is bound to fail.

Photo taken on Jan. 12, 2019 shows the White House and a stop sign in Washington D.C., the United States. (Photo: Xinhua)

There is only one China in the world. The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, in response to the recent erroneous statements by the US government in support of so-called “meaningful participation” of Taiwan in the UN.

A total of 180 countries, including the US, have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of their commitment to the one-China principle. “The one-China principle is a consensus of the international community and a widely recognized norm of international relations, which allows no challenge or distortion,” said Zhang.

Zhang pointed out that the UN is an inter-governmental organization composed of sovereign states. UNGA Resolution 2758 (XXVI) solved once and for all the issue of China's representation in the UN in political, legal and procedural terms. Taiwan, as part of China, is not eligible to join the UN.

The UN system, its specialized agencies and the UN Secretariat should abide by the one-China principle and UNGA Resolution 2758 (XXVI) when dealing with Taiwan-related affairs. “The meaning of the one-China principle and UNGA Resolution 2758 (XXVI) is very clear. There is no room for political manipulation,” he said.

Zhang stressed that the recent erroneous statements by the US, which sought to support Taiwan in expanding the so-called "international space," have sent the wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" forces, and China expresses its firm opposition.

“The one-China principle allows no challenge and UNGA Resolution 2758 (XXVI) allows no distortion,” Zhang said.

Fifty years ago, the US failed in its attempt to create “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan” in the UN. “If some country still backpedals in history today and tries to play with fire on the Taiwan question, it will only face an even bigger failure,” said Zhang.