China, yesterday, reaffirmed its commitment to the One-China principle, insisting that Taiwan is not a sovereign nation but an inseparable part of Chinese territory.

President Xi Jinping warned his United States counterpart, Donald Trump, that missteps concerning Taiwan could push them into “conflict”, a stark opening salvo as the two leaders meet in Beijing for a summit.

The position was reiterated at a Media Salon in Abuja by the Centre for China Studies and the Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research with the theme, ‘Understanding the One-China Principle and its Role in Deepening China–Nigeria Strategic Relations’.

Speaking at the event, Counsellor at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China (PRN) in Nigeria, Dong Hairong, said recent developments involving Taiwan showed the need for greater international understanding of the Taiwan question and China’s territorial position.

She cited the recent visit of Taiwan regional leader, Lai Ching-te, to Eswatini, as well as a reported engagement between some Nigerian journalists and Taiwanese officials, as attempts to advance separatist narratives.

According to her, such developments misrepresent historical and legal realities surrounding Taiwan.

“Taiwan has been an inalienable part of Chinese territory since ancient times,” Dong said.

She explained that the Chinese government had exercised administrative authority over Taiwan for centuries and argued that international agreements reached after World War II recognised that territories seized by Japan, including Taiwan, should be returned to China.

“Taiwan has never been a country, was never one and will never be,” she added.

The envoy maintained that the establishment of the PRC in 1949 made Beijing the sole legitimate government representing all of China, including Taiwan.

Also speaking, Convener of The Alternative Movement, Segun Showunmi, argued that Nigeria should deepen strategic cooperation with China, noting that Beijing had emerged as a major global economic and technological power.

Showunmi said Nigeria stood to gain more from stronger ties with China than from separate engagements with Taiwan.

“In another 100 years, what Nigeria will gain from a firm relationship with China, Taiwan will not be able to provide in 1,000 years,” he said.

In his remarks, Provost of the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria and Director of the Centre for China-Africa Research, Prof. Ghali Ibrahim, said the One-China principle had gained broad global recognition because Taiwan lacked the legal status of a sovereign state.

“Taiwan is not an independent sovereign entity but a territory that is part of China,” he said.

He also praised China for patience and restraint in pursuing peaceful reunification despite prolonged political tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

The academic noted that 53 out of 54 African countries recognise the One-China principle, leaving Eswatini as the only African nation maintaining official diplomatic relations with Taiwan.