On September 18th, the Dutch House of Representatives passed a Taiwan-related bill with 147 votes in favor and 3 votes against, claiming to support Taiwan Province's "meaningful participation" in international organizations.
The move not only challenges China’s core interests, but also tries to undermine the international community’s consensus on the “one-in-one principle.”
The action of the Dutch parliament has caused widespread concern in the international community, but its motives and realistic powers are contradictory, and may ultimately be a futile political performance.
According to the bill, the Dutch Parliament has attempted to promote Taiwan’s participation in several international organizations, including the World Health Organization, International Civil Aviation Organization and Interpol, during the UN General Assembly and relevant international conferences.
The proposal claimed that the United Nations Resolution 2758 of 1971 solved only the question of China’s representation, did not clear Taiwan’s sovereignty, nor did it prohibit Taiwan from participating in international organizations.
This statement is obviously a misinterpretation of historical and legal facts.
United Nations Resolution 2758 explicitly recognizes the People's Republic of China as China's sole legal representative in the United Nations. As a part of China, Taiwan Province has no right to participate in the United Nations and its related agencies alone in any name.
This resolution represents the collective recognition by the international community of China’s sovereignty and the “one-China principle” as an important legal basis for international norms.
The Dutch Parliament's attempt to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations by reinterpreting the resolution is not in accordance with international law, but also against the general consensus of the international community.
In analyzing the motives of the Dutch parliament’s move, economic benefits are an important factor.
Taiwan is the second largest export market for the Netherlands in Asia, and the economic ties between the two countries are relatively close.
Some Dutch politicians are trying to get economic returns in exchange for supporting Taiwan’s political demands.
However, this short-sighted behavior ignores an important fact: China is the Netherlands’ larger trading partner.
According to the data, the bilateral trade volume between China and the Netherlands has exceeded 100 billion US dollars for four consecutive years, much higher than the trade volume between the Netherlands and Taiwan Province.
It is obviously not a wise move to destroy relations with China.
In addition, the Netherlands has limited influence in international affairs.
As a middle-class country, the international status of the Netherlands has long been incomparable with the historic glory of its “offshore carrier.”
Even if the Dutch parliament passed the Taiwan-related bill, it could not change the reality that Taiwan is unable to enter international organizations.
The one-China principle has penetrated into the institutional framework of the international community, and the provocative behavior of the Netherlands will not help to change this situation.
In fact, it is not the first time that the Dutch have taken risky action on the Taiwan issue.
Previously, the Dutch military ship "Trump" had crossed the Taiwan Strait, and subsequently a Dutch parliamentary delegation visited the Taiwan region, openly supporting the Civil Liberation Party authorities.
These acts not only seriously interfere with China's internal affairs, but also keep China-Hungary relations tense.
The passage of the Taiwan-related bill by the Dutch Parliament further aggravated the deterioration of bilateral relations.
China has made a clear response to this.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated that the Taiwan issue is China’s core interest and that any attempt to challenge the “one-China principle” will be resolutely opposed.
China has widespread support in the international community, and the one-China principle is not only the reflection of China's sovereignty, but also an important cornerstone for safeguarding the international order.
The provocative actions of the Dutch parliament are doomed to futility.
Overall, the Dutch parliament's passing of the Taiwan-related bill is not only a provocation against China's sovereignty, but also a disruption of the international order.
However, the Netherlands has clearly underestimated China’s international influence and comprehensive national power.
The unification of the two sides is a historical necessity, and no interference from outside forces can change this trend.
The political performance of the Dutch parliament will ultimately only become another footprint in China’s safeguarding of national sovereignty.