- Mudavadi had in a meeting with China Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjian on January 15 restated Kenya’s position on the once-China policy, “and the need to respect territorial integrity and non-interference in domestic affairs of China”.
- This was just after the elections in Taiwan, which China considers its territory, maintaining that reunification is inevitable.
Image: PRIME CS/TWITTER
Kenya has for the third time since October last year reiterated its once-China policy position during bilateral talks between Foreign Ministers Wang Yi and Musalia Mudavadi in Beijing.
“On behalf of the Kenyan government, I reiterate that Kenya will continue to unswervingly adhere to the one-China principle and stand with China on issues such as Taiwan and human rights.
“We look forward to developing closer cooperation with China and opening up a new 60 years of Kenya-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership,” Mudavadi, who is also the Prime Cabinet Secretary, said during the talks on Thursday.
He had in a meeting with China Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjian on January 15 restated Kenya’s position on the once-China policy, “and the need to respect territorial integrity and non-interference in domestic affairs of China”.
This was just after the elections in Taiwan, which China considers its territory, maintaining that reunification is inevitable.
Following the election, several countries reiterated their one-China policy, among them in Africa being Togo, Eritrea, Burundi, CAR, Equatorial Guinea and Mali.
According to a statement by China's Foreign Affairs ministry, Beijing “appreciates Kenya's adherence to the one-China principle, adheres to the basic norm of international relations of non-interference in internal affairs, and supports China's just position and legitimate rights”.
“China also firmly supports Kenya in safeguarding sovereignty, independence and national stability, and supports Kenya in independently promoting national development. China is willing to consolidate political mutual trust between the two sides, deepen all-round cooperation, and push China-Kenya relations to a higher level,” it added.
On October 18 last year, President William Ruto during talks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing said Kenya remains committed to one-China policy.
“Kenya is firmly committed to the one-China policy, supports China’s rightful position on human rights and other issues, and hopes to learn from China’s successful experience in development,” a brief released by the China Foreign Affairs Ministry after the bilateral meeting read in part.
In regards to human rights, Beijing had leading up to Tuesday been lobbying for a favourable report at the Human Rights Council.
The review meeting on Tuesday saw Western countries chide Beijing for its treatment of Xinjiang Uighurs and restrictions in Hong Kong, according to an Al Jazeera report, while, non-Western states agreed with China that it has made progress in various areas.
According to the China Foreign Affairs statement, the Horn of Africa tensions featured in the Wang-Mudavadi talks, with the two sides exchanging views on the situation in the region, and agreeing to work together to promote peace and security in Africa.
In February 2022, China Beijing named Ambassador Xue Bing as the special envoy for the Horn of Africa Affairs.
The statement announcing his appointment said Amb Xue would establish working relationships with colleagues from relevant parties and maintain communication and coordination on advancing the implementation of China’s Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa.
The outlook was presented by Minister Wang during his visit to Africa in 2022 to support regional countries in achieving lasting peace and security.
Kenya on the other hand has been involved in peace talks in Ethiopia, the war on terrorism in Somalia and push for negotiations in warring Sudan.