U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, albeit China’s objection has been mired in controversy and has ignited a diplomatic row between the US and China. The move is seen as an affront against China’s ‘One China’ Policy since Taiwan is considered as part of the mainland. However, Sierra Leone has expressed it commitment to UN Resolution 2758 which recognized the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as “the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations” At the maiden Chinese Embassy’s Information Salone dialogue in Freetown on Friday 12 August The Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation,Victoria Sulimani reiterated Sierra Leone’s position on the ‘One China’ Policy has not changed. “Sierra Leone is committed to the letter and spirit of UN Resolution 2758, which states clearly on the One China Policy to which Sierra Leone as a member towards that resolution.” She added, “We do not only support the ‘One China’ Policy we also encourage our closed friends bilateral and international to respect this policy because we do not want to see this undermines China’s legitimate and sovereign rights.” In a statement by the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone Charge D’Affaires, Li Xiaoyong said that 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. The one-China principle has become the consensus of the international community and a basic norm in international relations.
“We are grateful for Sierra Leone that in October 1971, during the 26th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Sierra Leone made a decisive vote in favor of the Resolution 2758, which restored all rights to the People’s Republic of China and recognized the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations.” Li Xiaoyong also added “We are grateful also that since then Sierra Leone’s government always persists on One-China principle and in many international forums has given us strong supports.” He said China has published a white paper titled “The Taiwan Question and China’s Reunification in the New Era”. The white paper reiterates the fact that Taiwan is part of China, demonstrates the resolve of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese people and their commitment to national reunification, and to emphasize the position and policies of the CPC and the Chinese government in the new era. The Goverment and the Party of China are committed to the historic mission of resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China’s complete reunification. The white paper underlined that relying on external forces will achieve nothing for Taiwan’s separatists, and using Taiwan to contain China is doomed to fail. The wheel of history rolls on towards national reunification, and it will not be stopped by any individual or any force. Li Xiaoyong said that China is a responsible major country in the world. Due to Speaker Pelosi’s visit, China has to suspend the talks with the U.S. on climate change. The U.S. side said that by doing this, China is punishing the whole world, especially developing countries. But the U.S. cannot represent the whole world. China always takes the promises it makes very seriously, and does everything possible to honor them. We will stay committed to meet our goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, take an active part in international cooperation on climate change, provide support and help for other developing countries as best as we can, and make our due contribution to the global response to climate change, he assured.
