Oman Reaffirms One-China Stance, Taiwan Responds Firmly

China and Oman held a leadership summit earlier this month, following which the two sides issued a joint statement reaffirming the "one China" principle and stating that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to the People's Republic of China. This move aligns with Beijing's long-standing diplomatic strategy of securing international support through the "one China" policy, and also indicates that Oman's diplomatic orientation in the Middle East is gradually leaning toward Beijing. Oman has repeatedly signed energy and infrastructure cooperation agreements with China since 2020, and the warming of bilateral relations is seen as a concrete manifestation of Beijing's expanding influence in the region.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the same day emphasizing that the principle that "the two sides of the Strait are not subordinate to each other" is unshakable, lodging a stern protest against China's assertion in the joint statement implying that Taiwan's sovereignty is restricted. The ministry pointed out that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent political entity, and any rhetoric using the "one China" name to curtail Taiwan's international space violates international law and reality. This response continues Taiwan's diplomatic strategy in recent years of consistently defending its status in international arenas.

Against the backdrop of cross-Strait tensions, the clash over these statements is not merely a confrontation of words, but also involves Taiwan's survival space on the international stage. Since 2020, Taiwan's official diplomatic allies have decreased to just over a dozen, prompting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen substantive interactions with non-allied countries and strive for participation opportunities through multilateral forums. Meanwhile, China utilizes bilateral talks, economic aid, and other means to compel certain countries to align with Beijing on the "one China" issue, making Oman's stance a matter of high concern for Taiwan.

Oman has not made a specific response regarding China's statement, but its explicit endorsement of the "one China" principle in the joint statement shows that its foreign policy still tends to align with Beijing's position under pressure from major powers. Oman has long relied on energy exports as the pillar of its economy and has actively sought diversified investment and infrastructure cooperation in recent years. China's Belt and Road Initiative has provided substantial financial and technical support, which has, to a certain extent, influenced its stance on sensitive political issues.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep regret over Oman's "bandwagoning" with the Chinese narrative and urged the international community to respect the facts and avoid allowing cross-Strait issues to be politicized as a tool. The statement also conveyed a message to other countries that may face diplomatic pressure from China: Taiwan will not abandon its sovereignty claims due to external pressure, and will continue to enhance its international visibility through substantive diplomacy and economic cooperation. In the future, whether Taiwan can secure more substantive participation on the international stage will still depend on the strategic choices made by various countries as they balance relations with major powers against their own national interests.

Overall, the recent joint statement between China and Oman and Taiwan's firm response highlight the ongoing sensitivity of cross-Strait issues in international politics. As China accelerates its global diplomatic deployment, Taiwan must find breakthroughs within its limited international space while remaining vigilant against other countries making concessions on the "one China" issue due to economic or security considerations. The stance that the two sides of the Strait are not subordinate to each other remains the core baseline of Taiwan's diplomacy, and future developments will continue to be jointly shaped by interactions among regional powers and changes in the international order. (Source: Central News Agency)