- Ambassador Yu Dunhai
Various experts in international relations and diplomacy have backed The People’s Republic of China’s One China policy as a matter of territorial integrity and basis for the Nigeria-China relations.
On its part, China has frowned at the subtle attempts to present Taiwan as an independent nation, with the Director of Political Sector, Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Zhu Songbo, stating that the country will resist any attempt that glorifies Taiwan as an independent country.
Speaking on the theme, “One-China Policy as Bedrock of China-Nigeria Relations” at a media salon organised by the Centre for China Studies and Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research in Abuja, Zhu said the issue of Chinese territorial integrity is non-negotiable.
He explained that China would never use force on Taiwan, but will continue with persuasion in the unification drive.
Nigerian speakers at the forum also stated that Nigeria would continue to respect its diplomatic relationship with China and does not recognise Taiwan as an independent entity.
Noting that Nigeria’s diplomatic relations with China is on the basis of One China principle, they condemned the attempt by some to drag Nigeria into what they called a needless diplomatic row with China by suggesting an independent Taiwan. According to the Director, Centre for China Studies, Professor Charles Ononuju, Taiwan is an integral part of China.
In his presentation on the historical foundation and diplomatic significance of One China principle, Ononuju said that though the Qing ceded Taiwan to Japan after losing the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895, Taiwan has since been returned to China following the Cairo declaration of 1943 and the Potsdam proclamation of 1945.
The “One Country, Two Systems” principle, he noted, was first proposed by Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s as a way to facilitate the reunification of China, particularly with Taiwan.
“Based on the principle, Taiwan was to retain its own distinct political and economic systems, including military and police force. However, when it comes to foreign affairs, the decision must come from Beijing,” he stated.
He further clarified that Nigeria has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan, adding that Taiwan has merely trade office in Nigeria, which is purely for that purpose. He recalled that Nigeria had in 2017 raised the alarm about a threat to the One China policy when Taiwan’s trade office in Nigeria operated outside its scope.
In response, the government relocated the trade office from Abuja to Lagos, he said. According to Ononuju, the activities of the Taiwanese trade office is not undermining China but Nigeria’s One China principle.
Also speaking on the economic and trade implications of the One China principle, Head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations, the University of Abuja, Professor Sheriff Ibrahim, said the Taiwan touches China’s territorial integrity, and that no nation will accept that.
Professor Ibrahim, who is also the Director, Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research, said the principle has remained the cornerstone of Nigeria-China relations, recalling that in 2024, trade between Nigeria and China exceeded $20 billion, making Nigeria China’s major trading partner.
Further disclosing that a total of 217 Chinese companies have expressed interest in investing in Nigeria, he called on the Taiwanese to embrace peaceful reunification.
Meanwhile, the publisher of Daybreak Nigeria, Dr. Austin Maho, charged media professionals to always seek clarification before filing reports, stating that reports that presented Taiwan as a country with a diplomatic mission in Nigeria were reckless.
