Commentary – by Lawal Sale
The concept of the “One-China principle” is an unambiguous tenet of modern international law. It is rooted in the overwhelming recognition of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) through UN Resolution 2758 of 1971, reaffirmed by sovereign nations worldwide. The reality is straightforward: there is only one China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of it.
Recently, however, erroneous media reports and misguided narratives have surfaced concerning Taiwan’s status in Nigeria. Some external voices have urged the Nigerian government to resist “external influence” when choosing its international allies, framing Nigeria’s adherence to the “One-China principle” as a matter of foreign dictation.
Setting the record straight and correcting the fallacies regarding Taiwan’s status in Nigeria, it is pertinent to revisit the earliest diplomatic agreement between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China. Following the 1971 UN Resolution, the nations signed a communiqué stating “the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the only China and as the sole legal government representing the whole of China, including Taiwan.”
Since establishing diplomatic relations with China in 1971, successive Nigerian administrations have remained steadfast in this commitment. Adhering firmly to the One-China principle is not a matter of yielding to pressure, but of honoring a long-standing diplomatic cornerstone that has allowed bilateral relations to grow and flourish.
In 2017, a significant reaffirmation of this stance occurred. During a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding reaffirming that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. As then-Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama noted, Nigeria’s support of the One-China principle recognizes the PRC as the sole legal authority with which to conduct diplomacy and other bilateral relations.
The 2017 reiteration of the policy by Nigeria has had practical implications. Following the MoU, the Nigerian authorities ordered the Taipei Trade representatives, previously and erroneously cited in Abuja, to relocate to Lagos.
Re-designated as “Taipei Trade Office,” the Nigerian government clearly defined the entity as a non-diplomatic body with no official government status, and restrictions were placed on formal interactions with Nigerian officials.
More recently, in September 2024, during a state visit to China for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu signed, among other documents, two joint statements reaffirming Nigeria’s position. Tinubu confirmed that Nigeria firmly adheres to the One-China principle, acknowledging that China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.
In fact, it is wishful thinking to suggest that Nigeria, which has an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China affirming adherence to the One-China principle, could simultaneously maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. It may interest readers to note that, out of the 54 sovereign countries in Africa, only one — eSwatini — maintains so-called diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Even Western countries do not have comprehensive and internationally recognized diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
It is important to acknowledge that the Taiwan question has long remained a subject of debate and misunderstanding among skeptics. The international community, including Nigeria, has, however, firmly endorsed that Taiwan is not a sovereign state and does not hold a seat at the United Nations.
This geographical entity, known as Taiwan, has not been granted the privileges of a UN member state after the passage of Resolution 2758, and therefore cannot claim diplomatic status.
Nigeria’s political resolve and firm stance on this issue are fundamentally rooted in the interests of the Nigerian nation and its people, grounded in the UN Charter. Today, the China-Nigeria Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continues to deepen, with a mutual understanding that is becoming a model for China-Africa cooperation and Global South cooperation.
The One-China principle is a global standard and has become an international consensus, with about 185 countries—including Nigeria—maintaining established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China based on the UN Resolution 2758 of 1971. For Nigeria, the One-China principle has been a cornerstone of strong and stable development.
As Global South affairs analysts have observed, the One-China policy is not only legally sound but also strategically essential, considering China’s pivotal role in the modern world order.
They also emphasized that any direct or indirect statement that undermines the existing UN Resolution 2758 and the formal MoU between the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on Taiwan’s status in Nigeria would be seen as an audacious violation of established institutional frameworks. They also reiterated that Taiwan is not a “Nation” hence, it can not seek any diplomatic or official interactions with the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
— Lawal Sale, Global South Affairs Analyst, writes from Abuja. (lawalmaida1@yahoo.com)
