The one-China principle is unshakable and the historical trend of reunification is unstoppable, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian on Wednesday in response to recent wrong remarks by Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te.
Lai said at the annual meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) on Tuesday that the Chinese mainland has wrongly interpreted the United Nations General Assembly resolution 2758 to limit Taiwan's international participation and build a basis for so-called "military aggression against Taiwan".
Asked to comment on Lai's statement, Lin said at a regular press conference, held on Wednesday in Beijing, that "there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. This is an undeniable objective fact."
"Resolution 2758 of the UN General Assembly fundamentally resolved the issue of the representation of all China, including Taiwan, in the UN. It made it clear that there is only one China in the world, that Taiwan is part of China, and that Taiwan is not a state. The resolution clarifies that there is only one seat for China in the United Nations, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate representative of China in the UN. There is no 'two Chinas' or 'one China, one Taiwan'. The UN and its specialized agencies all follow the one-China principle, and the official documents of the UN refer to Taiwan as 'Taiwan, Province of China'. The legal opinion issued by the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat also stressed that 'Taiwan' as a province of China with no separate status' and that 'authorities in Taipei are not considered to...enjoy any form of governmental status'," he said.
"UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 once again reaffirms the one-China principle. The one-China principle is a widely recognized fundamental norm of international relations and a general consensus of the international community. How can there be any talk of a 'misinterpretation'? How can there be any talk of 'sovereign status' for Taiwan as it is part of China? Taiwan's participation in activities of international organizations must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle, so how can there be any talk of 'international participation'?" said Lin.
"I'd like to reiterate that the one-China principle is unshakable, the historical trend of reunification is unstoppable, and 'Taiwan independence' secession will lead to a dead end. No matter what the Lai Ching-te administration says or does, it will not change the objective fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, nor will it shake the legal status of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, nor will it stop the historical trend of China's eventual and inevitable reunification," said the spokesman.
One-China principle unshakable, historical trend of reunification unstoppable: spokesman
Residents at a temporary shelter in South Korea are coming to terms with the shock of losing their homes in the worst wildfires in the country's history, with the deadly blazes which have been burning since late last month forcing tens of thousands of people to be evacuated.
The devastating fires -- which first erupted back on March 21 -- have claimed the lives of at least 30 people and injured dozens of others, while more than 3,500 houses and 30 national heritage sites have been damaged.
The flames have so far spread across more than 48,000 hectares of land, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.
Shell-shocked local people have been sharing the horrifying stories of how they became overwhelmed by the fast-spreading flames and had to rush from their homes.
Jo Soo-gap, a resident of the Yeongdeok County in the severely affected North Gyeongsang Province, told the China Global Television Network (CGTN) of the moment the flames approached.
"We didn't think it would come all the way to our area. That evening, while we were at home, the wind picked up. It felt stronger than a typhoon. I thought it was getting dangerous, so l was preparing to leave with my wife. Then suddenly a neighbor shouted, 'The fire's coming! Get out now!' So we just got in the car and drove toward Pohang,” he recalled.
"When we finally returned at dawn, we found our house had completely burned down and collapsed. Other homes, even if they were mostly destroyed, still had some parts of the frame left. But ours was a two-story villa-style home, and it had completely caved in – flattened right down to its foundation. There was nothing for us left to retrieve,” lamented Jo.
He expressed the hope that the government would help him and his family, as well as the many others affected, to rebuild their homes, while issuing a clear warning to others about the dangers posed by wildfires.
"We hope recovery efforts can proceed quickly, and that the government or local authorities can provide permanent housing so we can rebuild our lives. Fire prevention is no small matter, people should never carry any flammable objects when going into the mountains or fields. I want to emphasize this very clearly," he said.
Meanwhile, Kim Woo-seok, chairman of the Pohang Medical Association, explained how medics are handling the various problems brought by the wildfires, with a particular focus being placed on the welfare of those suffering from chronic diseases.
"The most pressing concern for us is people with chronic illnesses, such as those with high blood pressure or diabetes who need to constantly take their medication. Some patients did not have time to grab their medicines during the evacuation, and the drug withdrawal can cause sudden spikes in their blood pressure or blood sugar levels. So it's crucial that we monitor and stabilize their conditions as quickly as possible,” he said.
Kim stressed that the psychological trauma brought by the wildfires is the most pressing issue, as people slowly come to terms with the significant losses they have suffered.
"However, the biggest emotional shock comes from losing one's home or seeing a loved one fall ill. Those situations can cause severe emotional trauma. People can develop symptoms like panic attacks or depression as a result. These issues require proper counseling and treatment, as the emotional stress can also cause physical symptoms, such as back pain or joint pain. Those are the common cases we see," he said.
Shell-shocked South Korean evacuees lament loss of homes in deadly wildfires
