A Foreign Ministry Spokesperson answered reporters’ questions on the 18th regarding a senior official of the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs fully and publicly reaffirming the Taiwan-related language in the China-ROK Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations.
Question: Nam Jin, Director-General for Northeast Asia and Central Asian Affairs at the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters on the 18th that the China-ROK Joint Communiqué states, “The Government of the Republic of Korea recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China and respects the Chinese side’s position that there is only one China and Taiwan is part of China.” Has the ROK’s above-mentioned position remained unchanged? What is China’s comment?
Spokesperson: Ahead of his visit to China last January, ROK President Lee Jae-myung stated in an interview with Chinese media on the Taiwan question, “The fundamental framework of ROK-China relations was defined by principled and foundational positions at the time of diplomatic normalization. The ROK government has always abided by these positions without deviation. On the Taiwan question, China’s core concern, the ROK will consistently uphold the one-China principle with due respect.” During his subsequent state visit to China, he reaffirmed that the ROK respects China’s core interests and major concerns and adheres to the one-China principle.
The Spokesperson went on to say that China speaks positively of the move whereby the director-general in charge at the ROK Foreign Ministry fully and publicly restated the Taiwan-related text from the bilateral diplomatic normalization communiqué: “The Government of the Republic of Korea recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China and respects the Chinese side’s position that there is only one China and Taiwan is part of China.” We hope and trust the ROK side will stay true to the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic ties, honor its political commitments, earnestly implement the one-China principle through concrete actions, and safeguard the political foundation of China-ROK relations.
