In response to the statement issued by the Chinese Embassy in Sweden on November 4, 2025, which falsely referred to Taiwan as a “province of China” and unilaterally invoked the so-called “one China principle,” the Taipei Mission in Sweden again strongly refutes such false claims:
Following the conclusion of World War II, the Treaty of San Francisco, which had the force of international law, replaced such political statements as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, did not cede Taiwan to the PRC, which has never ruled Taiwan.
In contrast, Taiwan has advanced democratization from the mid-1980s onward, culminating in its first direct presidential election in 1996. All members of Taiwan’s central government—both executive and legislative—are freely elected by the people of Taiwan. This forms the objective reality of democratic governance and effective administration. Taiwan and PRC are not subordinate to each other, a fact widely recognized by the international community.
The so-called “one China principle” mentioned in the Chinese Embassy’s statement is solely a unilateral political claim by PRC, neither recognized by international law nor accepted by the global community. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 addresses only China’s representation in the UN, makes no mention of Taiwan, nor does it authorize the PRC to represent Taiwan in the UN system. By distorting UNGA No. 2758, China seeks to fabricate a legal basis for the use of military force against Taiwan, in an attempt to internalize the Taiwan issue, escalate cross-strait tensions, and undermine regional peace—actions that have drawn increasing concern and pushback from the international community.
The Taipei Mission also notes with concern that the Chinese Embassy’s statement targeted Swedish research institutions and individual scholars, exerting pressure and demanding the adoption of the PRC’s so-called “standard map.” Such interference violates academic freedom and contradicts the spirit of open debate and freedom of expression that are fundamental to democratic societies. Taiwan firmly believes that academic research must be grounded in facts and science, free from political interference by authoritarian regimes.
The Taipei Mission in Sweden reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent democratic country. Taiwan will continue to deepen cooperation with Sweden and the international community on the basis of mutual respect, reciprocity, and shared democratic values. As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will work closely with like-minded partners to uphold the rules-based international order and to safeguard peace, stability, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific and the Taiwan Strait. (E)
