On 25th October, 2021, the POINTEXPRESS carried an article authored by Mr. Wang Erdong, Charge d'Affaires ad interim of Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Antigua and Barbuda, titled"China: A staunch supporter and contributor to the cause of the United Nations", in celebration of the 50th anniversary of restoration of People's Republic of China's lawful seat in UN. The full text is as follows:
Fifty years ago, on 25th October 1971, the UN General Assembly, at its 26th Session, adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority, which redressed the historical injustices done to China, deprived the Taiwan region of its unlawful seat, and restored the legitimate right of representation of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations.
The restoration of China's lawful seat in the United Nations was, as Chairman Mao Zedong put it, “a great victory”. We owe this diplomatic victory to the support of the fellow developing countries, especially our African friends.
When the Resolution 2758 was adopted, many delegates from Asia, Africa and Latin America expressed their joy with cheers, applause and hugs while the then US Permanent Representative to the UN sat dejectedly. He later recalled that it was like being shot down as a combating pilot. Though feeling bitter, embarrassed and discontent, the Americans graciously accepted the fact.
The restoration of China’s lawful seat is of great significance in the history of the United Nations. When the United Nations was formally founded in October 1945, China was the first country to put its signature on the UN Charter.
Soon after its founding in 1949, the New China demanded to restore its lawful seat in the United Nations, but was deliberately obstructed by the US and other Western countries.
As a major civilization and the most populous country in the world, China's return to the UN in 1971 was a victory for the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, since it greatly enhanced the credibility and importance of the United Nations and truly made it a global organization.
The restoration of China's lawful seat in the United Nations also ruled out any possibility of “dual representation” and declared the complete failure of the attempts to create “Two Chinas” by certain elements. It is without a doubt that there is only one China in the world; that the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.
China has not yet achieved reunification, but as President Xi Jinping said, “The Taiwan question originated in a weak and ravaged China, and it will definitely end with China’s rejuvenation. This is determined by the general trend of Chinese history; but, more importantly, it is the common will of all Chinese people.”
Looking back, for the past 50-plus years, China has always been a staunch supporter and an active contributor to the cause of the United Nations. We faithfully honor the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, firmly uphold the legitimate rights and interests of fellow developing countries, and become a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order, and a provider of public goods. By taking concrete actions, China has shown to the world that it is a proud member in the family of nations and a community with a shared future for mankind.
Fifty years later, ushering into a new era, China is taking strides on the journey towards its goal of national rejuvenation. We are fully aware of the international responsibility that we shoulder, and will continuously bolster the leading and central role of the UN in international affairs, uphold true multilateralism in an unequivocal way, and show the world what China has to offer to promote fairness, democracy and progress.
As President Xi pointed out, there is only one international order, and that is the international order underpinned by international law; and there is only one set of rules – the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
Also, we will never forget the profound friendship between China and other developing countries. Past, present and in the future, China always stands together with developing countries. We will firmly uphold the legitimate rights and interests of fellow developing countries and speak up for the developing world.
The United Nations is an important organization where international affairs are dealt with and cross-border relations are fostered. It is also a major platform where countries practice multilateralism and promote democracy and rule of law in international relations. In this regard, the UN is the most universal, authoritative and legitimate international organization to which no other multilateral mechanism is comparable.
On the other hand, the UN is also faced with various challenges. Certain countries pursues unilateralism and see the UN as a tool for applying international law in a selective way, posing major threats to the international order.
Additionally – as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the weak links and deficiencies in global governance – the UN also needs to adapt itself to the times by improving its efficiency, its emergency response capability, and the transparency of its work through reform, earnestly increasing the representation and voice of developing countries, and making the global governance system more just and equitable.
China and Antigua and Barbuda are both members of the UN. Our two countries have been supporting and relying on each other in the multilateral arena. China stands ready to work with Antigua and Barbuda to jointly safeguard the authority of the UN Charter and make the UN a common platform for defending justice and upholding fairness.