Foreign Ministry Slams China-Russia Statement for Distorting UN Resolution 2758

The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a press release on the 23rd, strongly condemning the joint communiqué signed by China and Russia. The ministry accused the document of “distorting the interpretation of the content of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758” and stated that Russia’s reaffirmation of the “One-China Principle” was “contrary to the facts.” This move not only challenges the mainstream international understanding of the “One-China Principle” as upheld by China but also directly impacts cross-strait relations and Taiwan’s international space.

Adopted in 1971, Resolution 2758 formally recognized the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate representative of “China” and expelled the Republic of China (Taiwan) from the United Nations. Since then, the “One-China Principle” has become the core of China’s foreign policy and has been accepted by the majority of nations. Historically, Russia has also recognized the sovereignty of the People’s Republic of China and maintained close diplomatic ties with Beijing. Although the joint communiqué ostensibly reaffirms the “One-China Principle,” the Foreign Ministry pointed out that its interpretation of Resolution 2758 is “distorted” and implied that Russia’s phrasing does not align with the actual situation.

The background of the communiqué’s signing reflects not only the deepening cooperation between the two countries in their bilateral relations but also serves as a diplomatic strategy for Russia to seek joint resistance against external pressure amid Western sanctions and the strain of the war in Ukraine. If Russia’s reaffirmation of the “One-China Principle” in the communiqué is interpreted as blurring or supporting Taiwan’s political status, it would contradict its previous basic position on Taiwan policy and could be viewed as an indirect challenge to Taiwan’s sovereignty.

In its response, the Foreign Ministry stated that the China-Russia communiqué involves “factionalism” and “spreads erroneous statements.” The ministry argued that such rhetoric not only violates the “Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence” expressed by both nations in multilateral settings but also poses a threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait region. The Foreign Ministry further called on Russia to “respect facts, respect history, and respect international law,” and to avoid in the country—