By: Francis F.M. Harding
Taiwan has long been the most sensitive issue in US-China relations and likely will remain so for many years to come. The impasse across the Taiwan strait serve as one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the world, the one issue that could lead to military conflict at a moment’s notice between the United States America and People’s Republic of China today. China is always of calling this matter a remnant of China’s civil war and a relic of the cold war. Indeed it is. However, the issue has evolved substantially from this historical context over the years, making the Taiwan impasse in some ways even more relevant and immediate today than ever. Many in the United States cares so much about this island off China’s coast and why Washington remains committed to it when this commitment could lead to was not only with a nuclear weapons state but also with the world’s most important rising power. Likewise, it is reasonable to ask why China cares so deeply about the island that it is willing to jeopardize many other political and economic interests to concentrate on gaining control over the territory. US-China relations more broadly, are complex. They have much to do with history as with present realities. The U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan has already set off a fierce rhetorical response between the United States and China and sparked fears in Washington that Beijing will engineer an unprecedented escalation in the Taiwan Strait.
Yet neither the United States nor China has any real interest in their budding superpower rivalry boiling over into open military clash at this point, despite the soaring tension caused by her arrival in Taiwan. And yet, the showdown is over the issue that is more likely than other to spark a future US-China war. And Pelosi’s trip is almost certain to create greater instability in the relationship that would make future conflict more likely. But it would better for the world to manage the new competitive relationship so that it does not result in war between the rising power in the Pacific (China) and the existing one (the Unites States) and its allies. Taiwan, which considers itself a sovereign nation, has long been claimed by China. But Taiwan also counts the US as its biggest ally, and Washington has a law which requires it to help the island defend itself. The escalation in rhetoric comes as China increasingly sends warplanes into Taiwan’s air defence zone-flying their largest sortie of the year just month-while the US has sent naval ships through Taiwan’s waters. Weeks after the US President warned China over Taiwan, Beijing has delivered its sternest rebuttal yet, saying it would resolutely crush any attempt at Taiwan’s independence.
Pelosi is the Speaker of the US House of Representatives and the second in line to the US President. Her visit to Taiwan is spiking and this has only further strained relations between Washington and Beijing. And the Chinese had said her visit to and activities in Taiwan, in whatever form and for whatever reason, is a serious violation of the US government’s commitment to the one-China policy and major political provocation to upgrade US official exchanges and substantive relations with Taiwan. And she was flown in a military aircraft and escorted by US Navy ships for what she acknowledged herself as an official visit to Taiwan has grossly infringed on China’s sovereignty, interfered in China’s internal affairs, violated the commitments made by the US side, and jeopardized and stability across the Taiwan Straits. As China appeared to be rehearsing an invasion just miles away. Tension rise between the US and China for Taiwan each side have the military capability and World leaders issued condemnations. Against this background the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone hold a day session of information Salon.
The Charge d’affaires of Chinese Embassy in Freetown, Mr. Li Xiaoyong and team from the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone on 12th August, 2022 informed journalists at it Embassy’s Spur Loop Freetown. Charge d’affaires, Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone, Mr. Li Xiaoyong said, it’s a good opportunity to refresh our friendship and exchange views on issues of common interest and for the efforts in promoting China-Sierra Leone friendship. He continues that on 29th July has marked the 51st Anniversary of the Establishment of China-Sierra Leone Diplomatic Relations. For the past 51 years we have witnessed the long lasting friendship between China and Sierra Leone in the process of supporting each other and safeguarding international justice and fairness, the notable results of cooperation between China and Sierra Leone, including the infrastructures like the stadiums, the hospitals, schools, bridges and roads, and have witnessed the expansion of our trade economic cooperation. The Charge d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy said relationship formed between China and Sierra Leone is a microcosm of the relationship at large between China and Africa as a whole. Mr. Li Xiaoyong continued that during the commemoration there was a special moment in the relationship between our two countries, the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone conversation with Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister Professor David Francis who confirmed again that China is a reliable and strong partner for Sierra Leone.
“Large number of construction machinery and a modern naval patrol ship have arrived in Freetown, a new batch of COVID-19 vaccines was handed over just 3 days ago, batch of new agriculture instruments donated by China have been delivered to the warehouse of the Ministry of Agriculture, the construction of Foreign Affairs Academy is nearly completed, 4 mobile clinics buses have departed to provide service in the provinces. China will continue to uphold the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests in its cooperation with Sierra Leone.” The Charge d’affaires of Chinese Embassy says.
The Charge d’affaires of Chinese Embassy Mr. Li Xiaoyong said recently, The U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited China’s Taiwan region with deaf ears of China’s firm opposition and strong position, sending a very wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. In conclusion he continued to say as Sierra Leone friends know, there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China’s sole legal government representing the whole of China. The one -China principle has become the consensus of the international community and a basic norm in international relations. He end’s that they are grateful for Sierra Leone that in October 1971, during the 26th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Sierra Leone made a decisive vote in favour of the Resolution N. 2758, which restored all rights to the PRC and recognized the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations.
He said to date, 181 countries around the world, including the US, have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle.
The Charge d’affaires of Chinese Embassy Mr. Li Xiaoyong said on 10th China published a white paper titled “The Taiwan Question and China’s Reunification in the New Era.” He said the white paper reiterated the fact that Taiwan is part of China, demonstrates the resolve of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese people and their commitment to national reunification, and to emphasize the position and policies of the CPC and the Chinese government in the new era. The Government and the Party of China are committed to the historic mission of resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China’s complete reunification and that the white paper underlined that relying on external forces will achieve nothing for Taiwan’s separatists, and using Taiwan to contain China is doomed to fail. He continued that the wheel of history rolls on national reunification and it will not be stopped by any individual or any force.
Due to Speaker Pelosi’s visit, China has to suspend the talks with the U.S. on climate change, on the U.S. side said that by doing this, China is punishing the whole world, especially developing countries and that U.S. cannot represent the whole world. “China always takes the promises it makes stay committed to meet our goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, take an active part in international cooperation on climate change.” Charge d’affaires of Chinese Embassy noted.
In her statement Ambassador Victoria Sulimani, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Internal Corporation said Sierra Leone and the People Republic of China relations started back in 1971 and that in 2021 Sierra Leone and China celebrated 51 relationships on the 19th July, 2022. She talks about Sierra Leone special relationship with the Peoples of China. Sierra Leone was behind China since 1971 and last year Sierra Leone-China celebrated 50 years foe its excellent relationship which show the good relationship has move to highest political level that excited between both countries as President Julius Maada Bio and President Xi Jinping of the Peoples Republic of China in their friendship both bilateral and multi-lateral levels.
“At the level of foreign ministers, on 19th July this year the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone Professor David Francis and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People republic of China His Excellency Minister Wang Yi had a conversation the two ministers’ expresses satisfaction of relationship between two countries. The conversation also focused on trade and investment there is mutual interests between two countries and there is need to support each other for the maintenance for international peace and security at the global perspective and the bound of friendship also goes on mutual interest in areas of trade, investment, agriculture, renewable energy, mining and industry, tourism, health, education, science and technology.” Ambassador Victoria Sulimani maintained.
“Sierra Leone commitment to the later and spirit of the UN-General Assembly resolution27/58 put it clearly on the China one policy and that Sierra Leone position on the China policy has not change. Sierra Leone will continues encourage her friends bilateral friends to respect China as Sierra Leone will not want to see people undermine Peoples Republic of China.” Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Internal Corporation said.
She continues acknowledge the support by China to Sierra Leone development aspirations for the numbers of projects the Peoples Republic of China has been supporting Sierra Leone. Projects like the construction of the Foreign Affairs Academy which will be commission by the President in late September, the refurbishment of the two national stadium, the construction of the newly stadium in Bo, road constructions work at Regent village, constructions of the hundred bedding hospital complex at Jui, provision of medical equipment and drugs, construction of hundred beds rooms each in Rokupa and Kingharman road hospitals, donations of COVID-19 vaccines and other medical equipment. And seminars and trainings in various areas of studies for MDAs. The programme ended with questions from the press and answers from Mr. Li and diplomats of the Chinese Embassy.
