Legal scholars affirm Taiwan resolution at UN seminar in Wuhan

International law experts reaffirmed the validity of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and the one-China principle, emphasizing their significance in upholding the UN-centered international order, during a seminar held on Saturday in Wuhan, Hubei province.

"UN Resolution 2758 recognized the government of the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate representative of China to the UN," Miguel de Serpa Soares, former UN under-secretary-general for legal affairs, said at the academic seminar which marked the UN's 80th anniversary.

At the seminar — jointly hosted by Wuhan University and Egypt's Benha University — experts from various countries refuted misinterpretations of Resolution 2758 and key post–World War II documents, including the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Declaration. Using legal reasoning and historical evidence, they reiterated the legal status and enduring importance of these documents.

"The resolution provides China with sovereignty over Taiwan both legally and historically," Ignacio de la Rasilla, professor of international law at Wuhan University, said.

Mamadou Hebie, associate professor of International Law at Leiden University in the Netherlands, reviewed the historical context of Resolution 2758 by presenting statements from African representatives to the UN in the 1960s and 1970s, underscoring the contribution of African nations to Resolution 2758.

He cited a remark made by Solomon Pratt of Sierra Leone in 1969: "Taiwan has never in modern times been an independent state. It has always been recognized as part and parcel of China."

"The global majority, through a clear understanding of history, strong legal reasoning, and a vision for the future of the organization, was able to articulate an unassailable case for the restoration of China's legal rights," Hebie said.

Citing evidence such as the UN's consistent use of the term "Taiwan, Province of China" in official documents and the fact that more than 180 countries have established diplomatic relations with China based on the one-China principle, scholars at the seminar reaffirmed that Resolution 2758 has fully addressed the representation for Taiwan at the UN.

"Upholding the authority of the Resolution means safeguarding international fairness and justice, which serves the common interests of the global community," Kong Qingjiang, director of the school of foreign-related rule of law at the China University of Political Science and Law, said.

Zhu Kongjun, Party secretary of Wuhan University, warned that "certain forces are attempting to challenge the post-war international order established by the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Declaration and overturn the principles embodied in UN Resolution 2758." He called for efforts to safeguard these hard-earned principles that have stood the test of time and remain vital to global peace.

"Acts of distorting or challenging Resolution 2758 not only undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity but also challenge the authority of the UN," Zhao Shitong, deputy director of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said.

Two books compiling the texts, documents, materials, and legal studies related to UN Resolution 2758 were also released at the event.