【大使专栏】从一个中国原则到“远望5号”

近段时间，两则有关中国的消息得到斯里兰卡各界朋友广泛关注。一是本月初美国国会众议长佩洛西窜访中国台湾地区，中方第一时间作出坚决反制，全球170多个国家纷纷表示坚持一个中国原则、反对美方挑衅，维克拉马辛哈总统和斯里兰卡多个政党、团体也公开发声、仗义执言；二是本月中旬中斯两国共同抵制了来自第三方毫无理由的蛮横干预，中方科考船“远望5号”按照斯方最新批准，顺利停靠汉班托塔港完成补给。两件事看似相隔万里，但实则有着同样的重大意义，那就是坚决维护国家主权、独立和领土完整。事件的过程和结果也充分展现了中斯两国建交65周年来，始终在涉及彼此核心利益和重大关切问题上相互理解、相互支持的优良传统。

1971年10月，第26届联合国大会以压倒性多数通过了第2758号决议，正式确认了一个中国原则，即世界上只有一个中国，台湾是中国的一部分，中华人民共和国政府是代表全中国的唯一合法政府。斯里兰卡（时称锡兰）正是2758号决议23个共同提案国之一，中国人民对此始终充满感激。一个中国原则已成为国际社会普遍共识和国际关系基本准则，包括美国在内的181个国家正是在此基础上同新中国建立了外交关系。

佩洛西的窜访严重违反一个中国原则和中美三个联合公报规定，严重侵犯中国主权和领土完整，严重破坏台海和平稳定，向“台独”分裂势力发出严重错误信号。我注意到有个别兰卡媒体转载西方媒体报道，谬称中国对佩窜访“反应过度”、“升级紧张局势”、“改变台海现状”。这完全是混淆是非、倒打一耙。采取不负责任行为、致使台海局势升级的是美方；改变台海现状的不是中方，而是美国和台湾分裂势力；佩作为美国政府第三号人物窜访造成严重后果，中方理当坚决回应。

捍卫一个中国原则，不仅是维护中方的核心利益，也是在维护联合国宪章和国际关系基本准则。如果中国和国际社会不对美方极不负责、极不理性的行径予以坚决抵制，不干涉内政、尊重主权和领土完整的国际关系原则将成为一纸空文，世界将重回丛林法则、野蛮时代，中小国家的主权和领土完整将受到严峻挑战，各种分裂分子和极端势力将会变本加厉，包括斯里兰卡在内的国际地区和平稳定局面将受到严重损害。

历史上，斯里兰卡曾经历了来自北部邻居17次侵略，来自西方殖民主义者450年的掠夺，以及与分裂势力、恐怖主义近30年的战争，至今仍屹立于世界民族之林，令人钦佩。斯里兰卡的主权、独立和领土完整同样不容侵犯。批准远望5号科考船停靠汉班托塔港补给，完全是斯政府在主权范围内作出的决定。远望5号科考活动符合国际法和国际通行惯例，有关方面以所谓“安全关切”为由横加干扰，却拿不出丝毫证据，纯粹是对斯里兰卡主权、独立赤裸裸的干涉。在中斯双方共同努力下，事件最终得以妥善解决，既捍卫了斯里兰卡主权与独立，也维护了国际公平与正义。

与斯里兰卡类似，中国近代以来同样经历了百年屈辱，始终在国际多边舞台坚定支持斯捍卫自身主权、独立与领土完整。反观一些国家，总是找一些莫须有的借口欺凌斯里兰卡，践踏斯主权和独立。下个月，联合国人权理事会第51届会议将在日内瓦举行，涉斯人权问题料将再次被炒作。在斯里兰卡举国上下面临严重危机和人道主义困难之际，这些口口声声支持斯里兰卡保障人权的国家是会伸出援手，为斯改善人权提供实质帮助？还是继续以人权为工具干涉斯内政，在斯人民伤口上撒盐？就让我们拭目以待。

In recent days, two pieces of news related to China have widely caught the eye in Sri Lanka. Early this month, after the U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s sneaky visit to China’s Taiwan region, the Chinese side responded with firm countermeasures immediately. Over 170 countries around the world have all expressed their firm support for the One-China Principle and strong objection against the US provocation. I’m grateful to see that H.E. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, many Sri Lanka’s political parties and social groups have also openly spoken up for justice in support of China. Meanwhile, in the middle of this month, with China and Sri Lanka having altogether resisted the rude and unreasonable interference from third parties, the Chinese scientific research vessel “Yuan Wang 5” has successfully docked at the Hambantota Port for replenishment after receiving the latest approval from the Sri Lankan government. Those two matters may seem irrelevant and thousands of miles apart, but both share a same great significance between China and Sri Lanka, that is to jointly safeguard each other’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. The two matters, both the process and results, have also fully shown a fine tradition in our bilateral relations, that is since the diplomatic ties was established 65 years ago, China and Sri Lanka have always been mutually understanding, respecting and supporting each other on issues of core interests and major concerns.

In October 1971, the UN Resolution 2758, co-sponsored by Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) and 22 other countries, was adopted with an overwhelming majority votes in the 26th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The Resolution officially acknowledges the One-China Principle and the position that There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. It also recognizes PRC as the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations. Since then, the One-China Principle has become a common understanding of the international society and a basic norm of international relations, and upon that principle, 181 countries including the US have established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.

Nancy Pelosi’s visit is a serious violation of the One-China Principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiqués. It seriously infringes on China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, gravely undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and sends a seriously wrong signal to the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. However, I noticed that some local newspapers have forwarded voices from western media, falsely claimed that China “overreacts, escalates the tension and changes the Taiwan Strait status quo”, which are just their habitual tactics of standing facts on the heads and of a thief crying "stop thief". It is the US and the Taiwan separatists that commits irresponsible acts, changes and escalates the Taiwan Strait situation, not China. China has every reason to respond unhesitantly to the severe impacts caused by the Taiwan visit of Speaker Pelosi, second in line to the US presidency and the No. 3 official of the US government.

Upholding the One-China Principle is not only about safeguarding China’s core interests, but also safeguarding the UN Charter and the basic norms of international relations. If China and the international society had not resisted such extremely irresponsible and irrational acts by the US side, the general principle of Non-Interference, National Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity in the international relations would have just become a mere scrap of paper. More seriously, the world might slide back to jungle rules and barbarian times. With separatists and extremists being encouraged, national sovereignty and territorial integrity of medium and small countries might be severely challenged. The peace and stability in the region and the world enjoyed by countries including Sri Lanka would also suffer serious damages.

Looking back at the great history of the island, Sri Lanka who overcome aggression from its northern neighbor for 17 times, colonization by the west for 450 years, and an anti-terrorism war for nearly 3 decades, is now still standing in the world bravely and proudly. Any infringement on the national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka shall not be tolerated. Approving a foreign vessel’s port call at Hambantota or any other port for replenishment is a decision made by the Sri Lankan government completely within its sovereignty, not to mention all the scientific research activities of “Yuan Wang 5” comply with the international law and common international practice. External obstruction based on so called “security concerns” but without any evidence from certain forces is de facto a thorough interference into Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and independence. Fortunately, with China and Sri Lanka’s joint efforts, the incident was resolved properly, which not only safeguards Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and independence, but also defend the international fairness and justice once again.

Just like Sri Lanka, China had suffered a hundred years of humiliation from 1840 till 1949. Because of the similar dark experience, China has always been supporting Sri Lanka in the international fora for protecting its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. We will continue to do that. In contrast, some countries, far or near, always make various groundless excuses to bully Sri Lanka, and trample on Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and independence repeatedly. Next month, the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council will be held in Geneva where human rights issues in Sri Lanka might probably be stirred up again. As the Sri Lankan people are still grappling with severe economic and humanitarian difficulties, many might wonder what those countries who have been always preaching about human rights will actually do. Will they help Sri Lanka to ease its human rights crisis by providing concrete support? Or will they again use human rights as a cover-up tool to interfere into the island nation’s internal affairs and continue to rub salt into the wound of Sri Lankan people? Just let’s wait and see.