China Reaffirms “One China” Principle, With Strong Backing from South African Youth and Academia

China’s Call for Unity Finds Echo in South Africa

Beijing’s long-standing message that “Taiwan is part of China” found fresh support this weekend, not only from its own officials but from South African youth movements and scholars who echoed the call for unity and sovereignty.

At a ceremony hosted at the Chinese Embassy in Pretoria, attendees marked the 80th anniversary of Taiwan’s restoration to China following Japan’s surrender in 1945. The event took on new significance as South Africa prepares to host next month’s G20 Leaders’ Summit at Nasrec, positioning Johannesburg once again as a crossroads of global diplomacy.

The gathering, attended by the ANC Youth League, the Young Communist League, and University of Pretoria’s Centre for Human Rights assistant director Lloyd Kuveya, underscored China’s ongoing campaign for reunification and against what it calls “separatist ambitions” in Taiwan.

Historical Roots of the “One China” Principle

Chinese Ambassador Wu Peng reminded guests that Taiwan’s restoration in 1945 remains one of the most symbolic victories in China’s modern history marking not only the end of Japanese occupation but the reaffirmation of Chinese sovereignty.

“Taiwan’s restoration serves as irrefutable proof of China’s sovereignty,” Wu said, referencing centuries of Chinese governance dating as far back as the 12th century. He added that October 25 has since been designated as Commemoration Day of Taiwan’s Restoration by China’s National People’s Congress.

China’s argument is deeply rooted in history and international agreements. The Cairo Declaration (1943) and the Potsdam Declaration (1945), both signed by the Allied powers, stated that territories taken by Japan from China, including Taiwan, were to be returned. Wu said this historical foundation forms the legal and moral cornerstone of Beijing’s modern stance.

South African Voices Add Regional Context

Adding a distinctly African perspective, Kuveya spoke about how the One China principle aligns with Africa’s broader push for decolonisation and unity.

“Most African nations, except Eswatini, recognise Taiwan as part of China,” he said. “This principle fosters peace and rejects divisions imposed by colonial masters.”

The stance resonates strongly in South Africa, where solidarity with anti-imperialist movements has long shaped foreign policy, from the anti-apartheid struggle to modern-day BRICS diplomacy. The ANC Youth League and Young Communist League have both historically expressed admiration for China’s governance model and its consistent stance on sovereignty.

Reunification and Global Politics

The renewed attention to Taiwan’s status comes amid rising global tensions over the island’s relations with the United States and Western allies. For Beijing, gaining support from African nations, particularly South Africa, a BRICS member, reinforces its diplomatic position ahead of the G20 Summit.

Wu stressed that recognising the One China principle is not merely a matter of historical justice but of global stability. “We must draw lessons from history and safeguard fairness and justice,” he said.

A Broader Message About Post-Colonial Solidarity

While Taiwan’s future remains one of the world’s most contested geopolitical issues, South Africa’s open support signals something larger, a reaffirmation of post-colonial solidarity, rooted in the idea that nations should define their sovereignty free from external interference.

As Beijing and Pretoria’s partnership deepens, from infrastructure investment to trade and education exchanges, the One China narrative continues to find new resonance in South Africa’s political landscape.

And with the G20 Summit approaching, those diplomatic echoes are likely to grow louder, from Nasrec to Beijing.

{Source: The Citizen}

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