BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday urged the Republic of Korea (ROK) to honor its political commitments and uphold the one-China principle with concrete actions.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks after the Chinese exhibition team announced it would withdraw from the Gwangju Biennale in the ROK in strong protest against the organizer's wrongful practice related to Taiwan.
Guo said the China-ROK joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations states clearly that "the government of the Republic of Korea recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and respects China's position that there is only one China and Taiwan is part of China."
The ROK side also clearly stated on many occasions this year that its commitment to the one-China position remains unchanged, the spokesperson said.
The organizer of the ROK Gwangju Biennale, however, has stubbornly clung to the wrongful practice, allowing China's Taiwan region to participate under a designation that is completely incompatible with its status, Guo said, adding that this is a grave violation of the one-China principle.
He said China is firmly opposed to this and has lodged serious representations with the ROK side, demanding that the relevant party immediately correct its wrongdoings.
"We hope that the ROK government will honor its political commitments, earnestly shoulder its responsibilities, and uphold the one-China principle with concrete actions," Guo said.
Noting that it's despicable for the Democratic Progressive Party authorities to exploit occasions such as cultural exchanges, conferences and exhibitions to engage in political manipulation and make "Taiwan independence" provocations, Guo said their political schemes are doomed to fail. ■
