美国国会众议长佩洛西窜访台湾之后，中方做出了坚决反应。要理解其中的道理，必须了解台湾问题的历史。

Over the past weeks, the world has seen the resolute response from China after the visit to Taiwan of US House speaker Nancy Pelosi. Some people have asked why this is necessary. To understand, one needs to learn some history.

台湾自古就是中国领土不可分割的一部分。历史上，台湾曾两次经历失而复归。一次是在西方国家殖民扩张的时代，荷兰侵占台湾38年，最终被中国民族英雄郑成功收复；一次是在帝国主义国家疯狂瓜分世界的时代，日本霸占台湾50年。1943年的《开罗宣言》和1945年的《波茨坦公告》明确规定，台湾应当归还中国。

Taiwan has been an inalienable part of China’s territory since ancient times. Throughout history, the island has been twice lost and regained. During the colonial expansion of western countries, it was occupied by the Dutch for 38 years before it was recovered in 1662 by Chinese national hero Zheng Chenggong. When imperial powers were carving up the world among themselves, Taiwan was subjected to Japanese occupation for 50 years. The Cairo declaration of 1943 and the Potsdam proclamation of 1945 made it clear that Taiwan should be returned to China.

1949年以后，尽管因内战导致两岸长期处于政治对立，但中国没有分裂，台湾是中国领土一部分、两岸同属一个中国的历史和法理事实没有改变。中国人民必然不惜一切代价坚定捍卫国家主权和领土完整。“台独”意味着战争，是死路一条。反对“台独”就是为了避免战争，挫败“台独”图谋就是维护台海和平稳定。

Although the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have been caught up in prolonged political antagonism since 1949 as a result of the Chinese civil war, China has never been divided, the island has remained part of China’s territory, and the historical and legal fact that the two sides of the Strait belong to the one and same China has never changed. The Chinese people will firmly safeguard, at any cost, their national sovereignty and territorial integrity. “Taiwan independence” means war and will lead to a dead end. Opposing and defeating such attempts is meant to avoid war and safeguard peace and stability in the region.

佩洛西不顾中方强烈反对和多次警告执意窜台挑衅，严重侵犯中国主权和领土完整。多年来，美方不断打“台湾牌”，搞“以台制华”，向台湾出售武器，提升美台关系，掏空“一个中国政策”；民进党当局拒不承认“九二共识”，大搞“去中国化”，顽固推进渐进式“台独”。

That is why China strongly opposed and had been repeatedly warning against the provocative visit of the US House speaker, a move that seriously infringed upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Over the years, the US has been playing the “Taiwan card” to contain China by approving arms sales to the island, upgrading its relations with the authorities there and hollowing out the one-China principle. The authorities on the island, led by the Democratic Progressive party, have refused to recognise the 1992 consensus that embodies the one-China principle. They have gone all out to advance “de-sinicisation” and promote “incremental independence”.

面对美方和“台独”势力恶意挑衅，中方理所当然要作出必要反应。我们采取的措施，目的是反对美国干涉中国内政，遏制“台独”势力分裂图谋，捍卫国家主权和领土完整，维护台海和平稳定。美方和“台独”分裂势力必须为自己犯下的错误负完全责任。有人说中方中断同美方在一些领域的合作是在“惩罚世界”，事实上中国在气候变化等问题上将继续履行对国际社会作出的承诺，在履行国际承诺方面，中国的记录是最好的。

Against such provocation, it is only natural that China takes necessary measures in response. These measures are aimed at opposing interference from the US in China’s internal affairs, restraining the separatist attempts of “Taiwan independence” forces, safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity and upholding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The US side and “Taiwan independence” separatist forces must bear full responsibility for their wrongdoings. Some people may say that by suspending cooperation with the US in certain areas, China is “punishing the world”. But China will continue to stand by its commitments to the international community on issues such as climate change. China has the best record of fulfilling its pledges to the world.

中美作为两个大国，正确的相处之道只能是相互尊重、和平共处、避免对抗。中方为推动中美关系健康稳定发展作出了巨大努力，但绝不会对美方侵害中国核心利益的挑衅行为坐视不管。美方必须回到一个中国原则和中美三个联合公报轨道上来，停止打“台湾牌”，停止美台官方联系和军事合作，不要在制造危机的道路上越走越远。

The right way for China and the US, two major countries, to handle their relations is to respect each other and avoid confrontation. China has made enormous efforts to promote the healthy and steady development of China-US relations, but we will never sit by and do nothing in response to provocative moves that undermine our core interests. The right thing for the US to do is to acknowledge the one-China principle and the three Sino-US joint communiques: stop playing the “Taiwan card”; sever any official ties and military cooperation with the island; and stop creating further crises.

台湾问题一直是中英关系中的核心敏感问题。中英在上世纪50年代初开始探索建立外交关系，而直到1972年才确立大使级外交关系。只有在英方明确承认中方关于台湾是中国一个省的立场、撤销英方在台湾的官方代表机构、承认中华人民共和国政府是中国的唯一合法政府、承诺仅同台湾保持非官方关系之后，中英正式外交关系才得以建立。这段历史切不可忘记。英方应该恪守自己作出的承诺。

The Taiwan issue has always been a sensitive matter at the centre of relations between China and the UK. Our countries began to explore diplomatic ties in the early 1950s, but it was not until 1972 that the relationship was upgraded to the ambassadorial level, with the signing of a joint communique. Full diplomatic relations had to wait until the UK clearly recognised the Chinese government’s position that Taiwan is a province of the People’s Republic of China, decided to revoke its official representative office on the island, recognised the government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, and promised to maintain only an unofficial relationship with Taiwan. This history must never be forgotten and pledges should be honoured.

在台湾这个大是大非问题上，英方没有理由不分青红皂白对美亦步亦趋。英国个别政客叫嚣“助台自卫”等言行极不负责任、极具破坏性。任何违反一个中国原则和中英联合公报规定的行为，都会给中英关系带来严重后果，任何人对此都不应该有误判。中英建立大使级外交关系50年来，双方交流与合作给两国人民带来了巨大利益。中英合作成果来之不易，值得珍惜。当前中英关系正处在一个重要关口。英国正在进行保守党新党首、新首相竞选。各方都很关注英国对华政策走向。在世界面临新冠疫情、经济下行、能源短缺、气候变化等严峻挑战背景下，中英应该大力加强而不是削弱合作。双方应该秉持相互尊重、平等相待、互不干涉内政原则，坚持对话与合作的大方向，合力应对共同挑战。这才是符合两国人民根本利益的正确选择。

The Taiwan question is a major issue of principle. There is no reason for the UK to disregard that fact and follow in the footsteps of the US. Calls to “help Taiwan defend itself” and the like are extremely irresponsible and detrimental. Any move that violates the one-China principle and the provisions of the joint communique, or crosses the red line of the Chinese side, will bring serious consequences to bilateral relations. There should not be any miscalculation on this.

Over the past 50 years, the exchanges and cooperation between China and the UK have brought enormous benefits to the peoples of both countries. These hard-won outcomes must be cherished. China-UK relations are now at an important juncture. The Conservative party will soon elect a new leader and the country will have a new prime minister. The trajectory of Britain’s policy on China is being followed closely from all quarters. Around the world, daunting challenges, such as the lingering pandemic, the economic downturn, energy shortages and the climate crisis, remain.

Under such circumstances, China and the UK should strengthen rather than weaken their cooperation. The two sides should follow the principles of mutual respect, equality and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, engage in dialogue and cooperation, and join hands to address common challenges. This is the right choice, one that conforms to the fundamental interests of the peoples of both countries.