The People’s Republic of China has consistently advocated what is known as “the one-China policy” as a prerequisite for diplomatic relations since its founding in 1949. This demands recognition that the PRC is the sole legitimate and lawful government of China and by extension that the island of Taiwan is legally part of the country’s sovereign territory.

Decades on, all countries that enter into relations with Beijing make this commitment to and are expected to abide by acknowledging China’s sovereignty as a pre-requisite, and therefore must not choose “Both Chinas”.

All countries that enter into relations with Beijing make this commitment to and are expected to abide by acknowledging China’s sovereignty as a pre-requisite, and therefore must not choose “Both Chinas”

In 1971 the United Nations put this question to a vote in the general assembly passed Resolution 2758 which affirmed the PRC as “the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations” and subsequently revoked the participation of the authorities in Taiwan.

Throughout this period, the West, including the United States itself in 1978, subsequently agreed to adhere to the “one-China policy” and therefore sever official ties with Taipei in the view of establishing relations with Beijing. These countries thus made real commitments to acknowledging China’s national sovereignty.

However, these days politicians and voices within some countries are developing the idea that the one-China principle of which they have agreed to should be challenged and lines should be pushed. Eager to promote formal Taiwan secessionism, a growing number of individuals are eager to default on their commitments to this issue and when receiving protest from Beijing, claim that China is somehow being the aggressor, even though its position has been consistent and clear.

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To portray its position on Taiwan as an act of coercion, aggression or expansionism is inherently misleading, and Beijing’s response is about defending its national sovereignty, and on this issue there are no compromises.

Since the establishment of the PRC, all of the country’s territorial claims have been established and upheld consistently. Because Western powers do not respect China’s national sovereignty, as can be seen here by the clear belief they can just disrespect their commitments to the one-China policy and not be held accountable for it, Beijing has no other strategic choice but to make its sovereign claims be taken seriously by the utilization of red lines and deterrence.

These lines have not shifted over time and Beijing has persistently lodged protest and made its position clear when other countries have challenged this, or attempted to disrespect it.

As anti-China sentiments are fanned by certain countries, the idea is subsequently growing popular that the one-China principle can be challenged and that the position these countries agreed to should be questioned, backtracking on their own agreements.

The United States for one has shifted from its initial commitment to the policy, strategic ambiguity and caution toward encouraging formal separatism in Taiwan, towards openly supporting it through increased official visits and exchanges, economic deals and heightened military cooperation. Likewise, some politicians in Europe, particularly in the Czech Republic senate, are also pushing the boundaries. When challenged, these opportunists simply say that it is China who is in the wrong and forcing their views on them.

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If China simply accepts this behavior and lets it go unaccountable, then it is effectively sending out a message that the country’s national sovereignty is, like in times gone by, open to being challenged by foreign powers and is not to be taken seriously, as well as the logic that agreements entered into with the mainland are not “equal” -- i.e. the West has the right to impose its one-sided terms and conditions on China as a whole.

Given this, Beijing will not compromise on its sovereign positions and the one-China policy will remain non-negotiable as it has for the last 70+ years. The West must impartially accept these positions and their commitments, rather than believing that they are somehow morally superior to the point they do not have to listen to China.

The one-China policy is a diplomatic prerequisite for relations, and therefore if countries refuse to accept their agreements Beijing has the right to respond with appropriate countermeasures not on the desires of expansionism, but to uphold its very consistent and clearly set out national sovereignty.

The author is a British political and international relations analyst. 

The views do not necessarily represent those of China Daily.