… reaffirms commitment to peace
Taiwanese government has insisted that Taiwan is not part of China as the 23 million population country draws the attention of the global community to Chinese bullying against Taiwan.
In a chat with BusinessDay recently, Andy Yih-Ping Liu, Head of Taiwan’s Trade Mission in Nigeria insisted that Taiwan is not part of China. He relied on the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758, passed in 1971 that Taiwan is not part of China.
According to him, China wants to convince the world that Taiwan is part of China, but this is false, insisting that the 1971 resolution recognised China’s PRC as the sole representative at the UN.
Strongly maintaining that Taiwan, known for its electronics, basic metals and metal products, plastics and rubber, chemicals, and machinery exports is not part of China, Andy Yih-Ping Liu said that his presence as trade mission demonstrates that Taiwan is separate from China and “our mission functions like an embassy and we are not part of China at all.”
Taiwanese mission in Nigeria has been established since 1991 and the very core idea of the mission is to work together with Nigerian governments from Federal to the states and the National Assembly to build very healthy partnerships , “providing our technology and know-how in terms of helping the rich resources country like of Nigeria to be complementary with Taiwan”, he said.
According to him, the two countries should start to deepen their trade relationship by finalising the investment protection and promotion agreement. The signing of the agreement will show the sincerity and actual protection of investments from both sides.
He said the US, EU, Japanese governments are all saying publicly that Chinese should not perform any kind of military bully anymore. “We appreciate the international society concern and those giving us all the support we need”.
Asked on the UN stand on what he regarded as Chinese bully against Taiwan, Liu said China is a member of the Security Council of the UN. China always block any kind of appeal from Taiwan to participate in UN. “Taiwan is not a member of the UN at the moment but we are a good student and good people in the world and we would like to be included in the UN”.
Late March, China staged military drills off Taiwan’s north, south and east coasts as a “stern warning” against separatism and called Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te a “parasite,” as Taiwan sent warships to respond to China’s navy approaching its shores, according agency reports.
The exercises, which China did not formally named unlike war games last year, are happening after a rise in Chinese rhetoric against Lai and follow on the heels of U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Asia visit, during which he repeatedly criticised Beijing.
China’s military deployed ships, aircraft and artillery to practise blockading the island, strikes on ground and maritime targets, and air interception to “test forces’ coordination in combat,” Beijing’s Eastern Theatre Command said in a statement as reported.
Liu also reacted to theses China’s moves to ramp up naval surveillance around Taiwan with highly sophisticated drone carriers, causing panic among the Taiwanese.
He emphasised that Taiwan seeks peace and prosperity, not war, and urged countries to address the development. He called for international support in the matter.
He said, “Our major appeal to the world focuses on two things: we Taiwanese want a peaceful and prosperous way of life. We are surprised by China’s constant bullying.
“The Chinese military threats around Taiwan have been ongoing for many years. The recent escalation in April, with their naval fleet, has shocked the world and made everyone nervous.
“Taiwan is uncomfortable with this, as it is an island separate from China. We’ve maintained our separation for over half a century.
China is using that old document to claim Taiwan is part of China, which is unacceptable. We want the Nigerian people to understand this,” he said.
But recently, Rep. Jaafaru Yakubu, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on China-Nigeria Parliamentary Relations, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the One-China Policy.
The Committee Chairman made this statement in Abuja recently, responding to remarks attributed to Andy Yih-Ping Liu, Head of Taiwan’s Trade Mission in Nigeria.
Yakubu emphasised that Nigeria recognized Taiwan as an integral part of the People’s Republic of China.
