On October 18, 2023, at a regular press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning addressed questions from reporters.

A journalist raised a query regarding recent comments made by East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta during an interview. Ramos-Horta responded to criticisms from Western nations about East Timor’s growing ties with China and accusations regarding China’s assertive actions in the Taiwan Strait. He characterized these criticisms as hypocritical, stressing that “China is helping us. Even before East Timor gained independence, the international community recognized the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China. What right do Western countries have to expect East Timor to act otherwise?”

In response, Mao Ning expressed appreciation for President Ramos-Horta’s remarks. Mao emphasized that the commitment to the One China principle reflects a global consensus, underscoring a significant moral stance and support from the majority of nations and international organizations aligning with the Chinese government and its people. He reiterated that the fundamental framework supporting the One China principle within the international community remains unshakeable, and highlighted the growing understanding and support for the just cause of the Chinese people’s opposition to “Taiwan independence” and their pursuit of national unity.