Photo: VCG

The Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands said the Dutch motion supporting the island of Taiwan's participation in the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has grossly violated the one-China principle, blatantly interfered in China's internal affairs, and deliberately supported "Taiwan independence" forces, which China firmly opposes.

The Netherlands' House of Representatives adopted a motion supporting Taiwan's participation in the Interpol during a plenary session on Tuesday. Lithuania's development of relations with the island of Taiwan was also covered in the motion.

In response, the spokesperson of the embassy reiterated that there is only one China in the world and the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. The one-China principle is a universally recognized norm governing international relations with the consensus of the international community and is also the political foundation for China to develop relations with other countries, including the Netherlands. 

According to UN Resolution 2758, the government of the PRC is China's sole legal representative at the United Nations. 

In the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations at Ambassadorial Level between China and the Netherlands in 1972, the Chinese government reiterates its position that Taiwan is a province of the PRC, and the Netherlands respects the Chinese government's position regarding Taiwan and reiterates its acknowledgement that the government of the PRC is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.

The participation of the region of Taiwan in the activities of the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and other international organizations must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle. These international organizations have also confirmed this fundamental principle through resolutions and other legal forms, said the spokesperson of the embassy.

Under the one-China principle, the Chinese central government has made proper arrangements for the region's participation in international cooperation in various fields and the channels of communication between the island of Taiwan and relevant organizations are smooth.

The real purpose of the island's participation in relevant organizations is to use the conference to highlight its alleged "sovereign status" and expand "international space." This attempt by the authorities on the island is bound to fail, said the embassy, noting that the rights and wrongs of Lithuania's Taiwan-related matters are clear. 

In disregard of the solemn position of the Chinese government, the overall situation of bilateral relations and basic norms governing international relations, Lithuania insisted on allowing the establishment of a "representative office" in its territory in the name of Taiwan. Lithuania recklessly "creates the false impression of 'one China, one Taiwan' in the world," setting a very bad precedent for other countries, condemned the embassy.

In the face of Lithuanian actions that undermined China's national sovereignty and security interests, China has responded in a reasonable and lawful manner, safeguarding its own legitimate rights and interests and upholding international fairness and justice, said the announcement.

The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair. It bears on China's core interests and the feelings of the Chinese people and tolerates no outside interference, the spokesperson stressed, noting that the strong resolve of the Chinese people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity is unshakable. 

The embassy urged Dutch parliamentarians to recognize the high sensitivity of the Taiwan question, immediately correct relevant wrong words and deeds, truly abide by the one-China principle and play a constructive role in safeguarding the overall interests of China-Netherlands relations.