Brazil reiterates considering Taiwan an “inseparable part” of China

Brazil reinforced this Friday (14th) that it considers Taiwan an “inseparable part of Chinese territory”. After the meeting between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and Xi Jinping, Itamaraty released a joint note on the official trip.

“The Brazilian side reiterated that it firmly adheres to the one-China principle, and that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the only legal government representing all of China, while Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory,” says the note on the theme.

“By reaffirming the principle of territorial integrity of states, it supported the peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese side expressed great appreciation in this regard,” the document said.

Brazil’s position in relation to Taiwan is not unprecedented. “The government’s [brasileiros]which since 1974 recognize China, have always agreed with the principle of one China, it is no surprise [a manifestação do governo Lula]. There is nothing different”, pointed out Paulo Roberto da Silva Gomes Filho, Master in Military Sciences from the Army Command and General Staff School (ECEME).

He pointed out that several countries in the world, when establishing relations with China, recognize “the one-China policy, because China does not admit that a country that has relations with China also has relations with Taiwan.” “Is no different [do que ocorre] with the United States, but the United States has an ambiguous position”, said Gomes Filhos about the relationship between the United States and Taiwan and China.

The Communist Party of China claims control over Taiwan, which became a democracy in the 1990s. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has already said he intends to carry out the “reunification” of the island’s territory. Furthermore, Taiwan is one of the biggest sources of conflict between China and the United States, mainly because Washington is the island’s main arms supplier and would be its main military ally in the event of a war with China.