China has reiterated that the One-China principle remains the political basis for the participation of Taiwan’s region in the World Trade Organization (WTO), according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks during a regular briefing on Tuesday while responding to questions regarding Taiwan’s absence from a high-level WTO meeting in Cameroon.
Lin said the decision by Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities to skip the meeting followed a dispute over visa documents in which Taiwan was listed as a province of China.
He accused the DPP of using the issue for political purposes, calling the move “despicable” and warning that any attempt at seeking independence would fail.
Reaffirming Beijing’s stance, Lin stated that there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. He added that participation of Taiwan’s region in international organisations must be handled in line with the One-China principle.
He further noted that the global trade system is currently facing serious challenges, including rising unilateralism and protectionism, which are affecting multilateral trade mechanisms.
Lin also highlighted the significance of the upcoming WTO ministerial meeting in Cameroon, saying China supports its success and the return of such meetings to Africa after a decade.