On 2 August, in disregard of China’s strong opposition and solemn representations, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited China’s Taiwan region, triggering a new round of tensions and severe challenges across the Taiwan Strait. This is a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiqués. It has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It gravely undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and sends a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces for “Taiwan independence”. China firmly opposes and sternly condemns this.

There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. This has been clearly recognized by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 1971. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, 181 countries have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle. The one-China principle is a universal consensus of the international community and a basic norm in international relations. In 1979, the United States made a clear commitment in the China-U.S. Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations — “The United States of America recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. Within this context, the people of the United States will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan.”

For quite some time, the United States has said one thing but done the opposite, played the “Taiwan card” by hook or by crook, put Taiwan in its so-called “Indo-Pacific strategy”, blatantly upgraded its ties with Taiwan, increased arms sales to the Taiwan region, openly clamored for helping Taiwan improve “asymmetric military capability” and supported separatist activities for “Taiwan independence”.

We have repeatedly and unmistakably expressed to the US side our firm opposition to Speaker Pelosi’s potential visit to Taiwan at different levels and through different channels. Despite opposition from all sides, Pelosi insisted on visiting Taiwan. The world has seen very clearly that it is the US’s provocations that have led to the escalation of tensions in the Taiwan Strait. The US should and must take full responsibility for it. It proves once again that some U.S. politicians are selfish and have become “troublemakers” of China-U.S. relations, and that the United States has become the “biggest destroyer” of peace across the Taiwan Strait and for regional stability.

I want to stress again that the one-China principle is the overwhelming consensus of the international community, the political foundation for China’s relations with other countries, the core of China’s core interests, and a red line and bottom line that cannot be crossed. The Chinese people will never accept that any country or force challenge China’s sovereignty on the Taiwan question, hollow out the one-China policy, and even deliberately create trouble in the Taiwan Strait. China will definitely take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is the dignity and right of any sovereign state.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia in 1972, successive Australian governments have pledged to adhere to the one-China principle, for which we express our appreciation. China has always respected Australia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and has never interfered in its internal affairs. It is hoped that the Australian side will stick to the one-China principle, adopt a just position and give China understanding and support on the Taiwan question, which is a major question concerning China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.