The Taipei Liaison Office in South Africa issues the following statement in response to The Citizen’s article published on 29 October 2025, titled “Taiwan ‘part of China’,” which reported on an event organized by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Pretoria to commemorate what it called the “80th Anniversary of Taiwan’s Restoration.”
The Republic of China (Taiwan) firmly rejects the false claims made in the report and reiterates the following facts:
- Taiwan Is Not Part of the People’s Republic of China.
The Republic of China (Taiwan) was founded in 1912, long before the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949. Since that year, the ROC government has exercised full and effective sovereignty over Taiwan. The PRC has never governed Taiwan for a single day. Under international law and the current global order, Taiwan and the PRC are two distinct jurisdictions, neither subordinate to the other. - The “One China Principle” Claimed by the PRC Has No Basis in International Law.
The PRC’s unilateral assertion that “Taiwan is part of China” is a political narrative, not a legal fact. The international community has never universally recognized this claim. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 (1971) only addressed China’s representation in the UN system; it did not determine Taiwan’s sovereignty, nor did it authorize the PRC to represent the people of Taiwan. - The Historical Narrative of “Taiwan’s Restoration” Is Misleading.
Taiwan was restored from Japanese colonial rule in 1945 to the Republic of China, not to the People’s Republic of China, which did not yet exist. The ROC government lawfully resumed administration of Taiwan following Japan’s surrender in accordance with the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. These historical facts clearly refute the PRC’s attempt to retroactively appropriate this history for its own political purposes. - The People of Taiwan Determine Their Own Future.
Taiwan is a vibrant democracy of 23 million people who freely elect their leaders and determine their own path. Any attempt by the PRC to distort history or impose political claims on Taiwan violates the fundamental principles of self-determination and peace enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
The Taipei Liaison Office calls upon the media and the public in South Africa to approach such statements from the PRC with discernment and respect for historical truth and international law. The Republic of China (Taiwan) will continue to work with South Africa and the world to promote peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Taipei Liaison Office in South Africa
29 October 2025
