Beijing pushes “China Taiwan” wording row

Apr 15, 2026, 09:02 am

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Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized Beijing’s position that South Korea should respect the “One China” principle during a regular press briefing. /China Ministry of Foreign Affairs

China has reaffirmed its position that Taiwan is part of China amid controversy over South Korea’s electronic arrival card, insisting that labeling Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” is appropriate.

At a regular press briefing on April 14, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated, “Taiwan is part of China, and referring to it as ‘China Taiwan’ is natural.”

Guo cited the joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and China, noting that the South Korean government recognizes the government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China. He added that the agreement clearly stipulates respect for the position that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of it.

He also referenced remarks by Lee Jae-myung, saying the president had clearly expressed respect for the One China principle during a special interview with Chinese media earlier this year and during a state visit to China.

“China’s position on the Taiwan issue is clear and consistent,” Guo said, emphasizing that the One China principle is a fundamental norm in international relations and a widely shared consensus in the global community. He urged the South Korean government to recognize the sensitivity of the issue for the Chinese people and to adhere to the principle, while opposing any form of Taiwan independence.

The dispute stems from South Korea’s electronic arrival card system introduced in February, which labeled Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” when selecting a departure point or next destination. Taiwan lodged a protest through its representative office in Seoul and requested corrections.

In response, Taiwan introduced reciprocal measures, changing how South Korea is labeled on its foreign resident cards from “Korea” to “South Korea,” and signaling further changes to its own electronic entry system.

South Korea’s foreign ministry has since indicated it would consider removing the “previous departure” and “next destination” fields from the electronic arrival form altogether—a move seen as a workaround, but one that may draw further backlash from China.

#China Taiwan #One China policy #South Korea entry form #diplomatic dispute