Question: Recently, a member of the Knesset from Yesh Atid traveled to China’s Taiwan to meet with the so-called “vice president” and “foreign minister” of Taiwan. Upon returning to Israel, this MK exchanged mutual flattery with relevant figures of Taiwan on social media and published an article on Israeli media, in which this MK boasted about his travel experience and openly referred to China’s Taiwan as a “country”. What is your comment on this?

Answer: The words and acts of this MK regarding Taiwan seriously violated the one-China principle, severely undermined the political foundation of China-Israel relations, and gravely poisoned the atmosphere for the friendship and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries. The Chinese Embassy in Israel firmly opposes and strongly condemns such acts, and has lodged solemn representations with the Israeli side, demanding an immediate correction to the wrongdoings to eliminate the negative impact.

There is but one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The one-China principle,  as a prevailing international consensus and basic norm in international relations, has become part of the post-war international order. The China-Israel Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations clearly stipulates that “the Government of the State of Israel recognizes that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China.” It is evident that this MK is acting in open defiance of the Israeli government’s position.

Taiwan is a province of China and has never been a country,  not in the past, and never will be in the future. I would advise this MK to take some time to study Chinese history and understand how, over the course of more than 5,000 years of the Chinese civilization, the spiritual world and belief system of the Chinese people have been shaped. It is through this long history that a shared conviction—“the territory must not be divided, the country must not be disordered, the nation must not be scattered, and the civilization must not be broken”—has been forged. By learning Chinese history, you will not be easily misled and will come to realize that the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces have no way out and no future. The “Taiwan independence” separatist forces are nothing more than mere clowns, destined to bring disgrace upon themselves.

I also advise this MK to open his eyes and see what are the global trend and reality regarding the Taiwan question: 183 countries have established diplomatic relations with China based on the one-China principle. By looking at the world objectively, you can break free from the information cocoon built by the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and make the right choice, instead of standing on the wrong side of history.

Furthermore, I would suggest that if possible, this MK should visit China’s Fujian Province, which sits opposite to Taiwan Province across the Taiwan Strait. You will see that people on both sides of the strait are family bound by blood ties, and that Taiwan belongs to the over 1.4 billion Chinese people, including the 23 million Taiwan compatriots. You will understand why Taiwan’s future must and can only be determined by the collective will of the over 1.4 billion Chinese people, instead of being manipulated by a small group of the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces playing politics.