China asserts Taiwan is not a sovereign nation, defending territorial integrity

China has reiterated its commitment to the One-China principle, declaring that Taiwan is not a sovereign state but an integral part of Chinese territory.

At a Media Salon in Abuja organized by the Centre for China Studies and the Centre for Contemporary China‑Africa Research, Counselor Dong Hairong of the People’s Republic of China’s Embassy in Nigeria made the statement on Thursday.

Hairong said that recent events involving Taiwan highlight the need for a broader international understanding of the Taiwan issue and China’s territorial claims.

He cited the recent visit of Taiwan’s regional leader Lai Ching‑te to Eswatini and a reported interaction between Nigerian journalists and Taiwanese officials as examples of efforts to promote separatist narratives.

“Taiwan has been an inalienable part of Chinese territory since ancient times,” Hairong said. “Taiwan has never been a country, was never one and will never be.”

Otunba Segun Showunmi, convener of The Alternative Movement, added that Nigeria should deepen strategic cooperation with China, noting Beijing’s rise as a major global economic and technological power.

Showunmi argued that Nigeria would benefit more from stronger ties with China than from separate engagements with Taiwan.

“In another 100 years, what Nigeria will gain from a firm relationship with China, Taiwan will not be able to provide in 1,000 years,” he said.

Prof. Ghali Ibrahim, provost of the Anti‑Corruption Academy of Nigeria and director of the Centre for China‑Africa Research, also spoke. He said the One‑China principle has gained widespread recognition because Taiwan lacks the legal status of a sovereign state.

“Taiwan is not an independent sovereign entity but rather a territory that is part of China,” he said.