Maldives Affirms Commitment to One-China Policy

The Maldives’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement yesterday reaffirming the government’s commitment to the one-China policy, emphasising Taiwan as an inseparable part of China’s territory.

The Joint Communique issued at the end of the State Visit to China by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, reaffirmed that policy, noting that “there is but one China in the world, the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. 

The statement further read, “the Maldives opposes any statement or action that undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, opposes all “Taiwan independence” separatist activities, and will not develop any form of official relations with Taiwan. 

The Maldives opposes external interference in China’s internal affairs under any pretext and supports all efforts made by China to achieve national reunification.”

The history between China and Taiwan stems from the Chinese Civil War (1927–1950). After the war, the victorious Chinese Communist Party established the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland, while the defeated Nationalist Party retreated to Taiwan, maintaining the Republic of China (RoC). 

Both claim to be the legitimate government of all of China, leading to a complex and ongoing issue in international relations.

However, the Taiwan independence movement is advocating for a formal declaration of a sovereign and independent state of Taiwan, in contrast to the ideas of Chinese reunification or maintaining the current status quo in Cross-Strait relations.