The Investigator | No. 06/2025

If you picked up a copy of the People’s Daily last September, you would have been reminded of the Congolese government’s ‘firm commitment to the One-China principle’. That is their belief that Taiwan is part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) or as they would say an ‘inseparable part’. More concerning still was the following text from the reprinted joint statement issued by Brazzaville and Beijing:

‘Congo resolutely opposes any form of ‘Taiwan independence’ and external interference in China’s internal affairs. Congo also reaffirmed that it will not engage in any official exchanges with Taiwan and fully supports all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification.’

Really, ‘all efforts’? This presumably includes the use of military force then; action which Beijing refuses to rule out and which its military resolutely prepares for. Should the PRC ever choose to cross the strait they will no doubt argue that it does include military force. In fact, it will likely argue that dozens of similar statements do too.