25 October is the Commemoration Day of Taiwan's Restoration. On 26 October 2025, the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph published an article by Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang, titled "Britain and China must work together to defend post-war order".

In the article, Ambassador Zheng explains the historical significance of the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration, stressing that Taiwan has been an inalienable part of Chinese territory since ancient times, and that the return of Taiwan to China is an important part of the outcomes of World War II and the post-war international order. The 26th Session of the UN General Assembly in 1971 adopted Resolution 2758 by an overwhelming majority. The resolution solemnly confirmed and fully embodied the one-China Principle. The attempt by the Taiwan authorities of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), in collusion with certain external forces, to distort and challenge UNGA Resolution 2758, amounts to a challenge to the authority of the UN and the post-war international order. The UK government should honour the solemn commitments it made in 1972 when full diplomatic relations were established with China, handle Taiwan-related issues properly in line with the one-China principle, stand firm against any attempt to challenge UNGA Resolution 2758, and work with China to defend the outcomes of WWII and the post-war international order.

The full text of the article is as follows:

Britain and China must work together

to defend post-war order

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations (UN).

Countries around the world, including China and the United Kingdom, have held commemorative events to reflect on history and look ahead to the future. Eighty years ago, after 14 years of arduous struggle and immense national sacrifice, the Chinese people achieved a great victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, contributing significantly to the global victory over fascism.

This year is also the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration. The return of Taiwan to China is an important part of the outcomes of World War II and the post-war international order. Taiwan has been an inalienable part of Chinese territory since ancient times. In 1895, Japan forced the Qing government of China to sign the unequal Treaty of Shimonoseki through aggression, seizing Taiwan and the Penghu Islands. The 1943 Cairo Declaration and the 1945 Potsdam Proclamation clearly stipulated that Taiwan, stolen by Japan, must be restored to China.

On the basis of these facts, the 26th Session of the UN General Assembly in 1971 adopted Resolution 2758 by an overwhelming majority. The resolution recognised the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate representatives of China to the UN, and decided to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupied at the UN and in all the organisations related to it. The resolution settled once and for all the issue of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the UN, from political, legal and procedural perspectives.

Recently, however, the Taiwan authorities of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), in collusion with certain external forces, have sought to distort UNGA Resolution 2758, claiming that the resolution does not address Taiwan's legal status or preclude Taiwan's participation in the UN or other international organisations. Such assertions are utterly wrong. In essence, they amount to a challenge to the authority of the UN and the post-war international order.

UNGA Resolution 2758 fully embodies the one-China Principle. Taiwan has never been a country. There is but one China, and both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China. This is a widely shared consensus of the international community. The UN and its specialised agencies consistently refer to Taiwan as "Taiwan, Province of China" in their official documents. The Office of Legal Affairs of the UN Secretariat has made it clear in its official legal opinions that “the United Nations considers 'Taiwan' as a province of China with no separate status”.

The one-China principle is the political foundation and essential prerequisite for the establishment and development of diplomatic relations between China and 183 countries, including the UK.

In the 1972 joint communiqué on an exchange of ambassadors between China and the UK, it is clearly stated that the British government, “acknowledging the position of the Chinese Government that Taiwan is a province of the People's Republic of China, have decided to remove their official representation in Taiwan on 13th March, 1972” and that “The Government of the United Kingdom recognise the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China”. It was only after the UK made this unequivocal commitment that formal diplomatic relations were established between China and the UK. This history must not be forgotten.

At present, the greatest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait comes from separatist activities for “Taiwan independence” and the connivance and support by external forces. To maintain peace and stability in the Strait, it is essential to uphold the one-China principle and firmly oppose “Taiwan independence”.

The Taiwan question lies at the core of China's core interests. Achieving national reunification is the shared aspiration of all Chinese people, both at home and abroad, and the steadfast will of the Chinese government and people. China will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with utmost sincerity and effort, but it will do whatever it takes to foil any separatist plot for “Taiwan independence” and to block any external interference.

The world today is entering a period of turbulence and transformation. The more volatile and uncertain the international landscape becomes, the more crucial it is to uphold the authority of the UN and to safeguard the international system with the UN at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms of international relations grounded in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

As a major victor of WWII, a founding member of the UN, and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the UK bears a special responsibility for defending the outcomes of the war and the post-war international order. Upholding the one-China principle and rejecting any attempt to challenge UNGA Resolution 2758 serves the common interests of the international community. It is also a responsibility the UK must shoulder as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

We hope that the UK government will honour the solemn commitments it made in 1972, stand firm against any attempt to challenge UNGA Resolution 2758, resolutely defend the outcomes of WWII and the post-war international order, and handle Taiwan-related issues prudently and properly in line with the one-China principle. This is the key to ensuring the sound and steady development of China-UK relations.