China’s Foreign Ministry has called Taiwan’s government’s participation in APEC “Chinese Taipei,” which KMT Director of Mainland Affairs Zuo Zhengdong said on Sept. 26 is unacceptable, saying that Tsai Ing-wen, president of the Republic of China (ROC), should enjoy the same respect and courtesy as other heads of state internationally.
The Republic of China (ROC) government has been participating in APEC since 1991, and the official name of the meeting has always been “Chinese Taipei,” which is a compromise, but it was the decision of all APEC members at the time and a win-win arrangement for both sides of the Taiwan Strait, Zuo Zhengdong said. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman’s statement not only contradicts the facts, but also harms cross-strait relations.
Zuo Zhengdong pointed out that for a long time, successive presidents have sent delegates to participate, but there is no prohibition on other flexible ways of participation on the part of the General Assembly. Although he opposes the Tsai government’s xenophobic and anti-China cross-strait policy and disagrees with the various diplomatic practices for the purpose of internal propaganda, President Tsai is the president of the Republic of China (ROC) and should enjoy the same respect and courtesy as other heads of state in the international arena. This is not only about the dignity of the ROC, but also about the right of the Taiwanese people to participate in the international community.
However, Zuo Zhengdong also said that when Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested to China that day, it did not specifically point out the mistake of calling the other side “Chinese Taipei”, which is somewhat negligent. He once again called, if even “Chinese Taipei” such a compromise name, the mainland still have to exert pressure, break the tacit agreement, then the people of Taiwan to “Chinese name” feel alienated, the hearts of the people of Taiwan drifted away from the mainland, it will not be unexpected. Recently, the Chinese Bird Club was forced to change its English name to Taiwan, which is a clear example of this.
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