The aerial photograph shows the Spring and Autumn Pavilions on October 16, 2020 in Lotus Pond, Zuoying District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. (Sam Yeh / AFP via Getty Images)
Beijing opposes Vancouver’s plan to establish a special relationship with Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City as the communist regime continues to isolate democratic island nations on the international stage.
In September, the Vancouver City Council adopted a motion proposed by Mayor Kennedy Stewart. Friendship City Program, A cheaper option to promote relationships with foreign municipalities than traditional Sister Cities International programs.
Stewart later approached members of the Taiwanese community in Vancouver, who recommended Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan.
Although Taiwan has never officially ruled an autonomous state, the Chinese administration, which has long considered Taiwan as a separate state, has denounced the idea of a friendship city program.
The Chinese Consulate in Vancouver issued a statement November 9th He said the city’s proposal to partner with Kaohsiung was an “official exchange” with Taiwan and was “resolutely” opposed.
“If the City of Vancouver establishes a sister city, friendship city, or partner city with Taiwan in the form of official approval, city council approval, or official document exchange, they are all considered official exchanges with Taiwan. Formal interaction mechanism. We are firmly opposed to this. “
According to the statement, Canada has a “duty” to comply with “one China policy.”— The administration’s claim that Taiwan has the only sovereign state in the name of China and is part of the People’s Republic of China.
“One China Principle” different From “One China Policy” adopted by Canada and many Western countries. Canada recognizes the People’s Republic of China as China’s only legitimate government, Do not recognize As a sovereign state, Taiwan simply “paid attention” to the authoritarian regime’s claims to the island.
NS Globe and Mail Alvin Singh, director of communications at Stewart, said on November 12 that the sister city program was not aimed at formal interaction with foreign municipalities, and cities in mainland China could be selected for such partnerships. He reported that he suggested that he had sex.
“The whole process is community-driven, so if the community wants to make one of the cities a sister city and can show that there is a group that wants to do this, that’s what happens,” Shin said. I am.
Mayor of Kaohsiung, Chen Ji-MySaid in Chinese Vision Times Taiwan is a sovereign state, and Beijing’s interference with the city’s diplomatic affairs is only hostile to its citizens.
Vancouver currently has five sister city relationships: Guangzhou, China, Odessa, Ukraine, Yokohama, Japan, Edinburgh, Scotland, and Los Angeles, USA.
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Andrew Chen is a Toronto-based Epoch Times reporter.
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