Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Russian far east belongs to China

Jon K. Chang Bruce A. Elleman

Earlier this month in Newsweek, President William Lai (賴清德) challenged the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to retake the territories lost to Russia in the 19th century rather than invade Taiwan.

He stated: “If it is for the sake of territorial integrity, why doesn’t [the PRC] take back the lands occupied by Russia that were signed over in the treaty of Aigun?”

This was a brilliant political move to finally state openly what many Chinese in both China and Taiwan have long been thinking about the lost territories in the Russian far east: The Russian far east should be “theirs.”

China’s hypocritical land claims

Paul Lin 林保華

During a televised interview with ERA TV earlier this month, President William Lai (賴清德) said that China wants to annex Taiwan not for the sake of territorial integrity, but for hegemony. Otherwise, China should take back the territory it ceded to Russia in the Treaty of Aigun, especially now that Russia is in its “weakest state.”

Despite Lai’s statement being reported on and republished by international media, China did not dare to respond directly. It was instead a spokesperson from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs who provided a response, saying that the 2001 Sino-Russian Treaty of Friendship and the Supplementary Agreement on the Eastern Section of the China-Russia Boundary Line between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation were the final solutions to the border disputes between the two countries.

China is unreliable trade partner

Taipei Times Editorial

China on Monday announced it was lifting a ban on importing pomeloes from Taiwan ahead of this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival. In doing so, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office emphasized that “Taiwan and China are one family and it is easier to negotiate things in the family.” It added that the two sides should interact on the basis of the so-called “1992 consensus” and oppose “Taiwan independence.” This clearly shows that the ban and its removal are politically motivated.

China imposed the ban on pomelo imports from Taiwan on Aug. 3, 2022, a move widely seen as a measure to retaliate against Taiwan for receiving then-US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi on Aug. 2 to 3. It is only one part of the economic prohibitions Beijing imposed that month, which included blocking imports of more than 2,000 Taiwanese products, ranging from agricultural and fishery goods to cooking oil and cakes.

MOFA to focus on clarifying UN 2758

Taipei Times

Taiwan will appeal to the international community to stop China from misrepresenting UN Resolution 2758 when the UN General Assembly meets later this month, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday.

The ministry made the remarks at a news conference in Taipei on its objectives to promote Taiwan’s inclusion in the world body.

The 79th UN General Assembly is to open on Tuesday next week at its headquarters in New York. The assembly is to hold its general debate from Sept. 24 to 28, focusing on the theme: “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Chung-kwang (田中光) said.

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