Chinese Embassy urges Nigerian media to respect one-China principle

The Chinese Embassy has urged Nigerian media organisations to distinguish between reporting on Taiwan and descriptions that could suggest the island is a sovereign country separate from China, Vanguard reports. Speaking at a meeting with media executives in Lagos, Mr Xu Fan, Director of Bilateral Relations and Commerce at the Chinese Consulate General in Lagos, said China’s position on Taiwan was rooted in historical records, international agreements and the diplomatic framework established after the Second World War. Xu clarified that China did not object to Nigerian media reporting on Taiwan but was concerned about terminology that could be interpreted as recognising the island as a sovereign state.

He cited United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 1971 and Nigeria’s recognition of the People’s Republic of China. Nigerian media executives stressed the importance of editorial independence and the freedom of journalists to report issues in the public interest. Xu said bilateral trade reached approximately $28 billion in 2025 and that China extended zero-tariff treatment to 53 African countries, including Nigeria. He also said Chinese authorities were cooperating with Nigerian institutions to identify Chinese nationals allegedly involved in illegal mining, adding that the Chinese government would not shield individuals found to have violated Nigerian laws.

The session was convened by Hon. Peter Ogbonna Eze, representative of Buffalo and Bay Media. “The media does not merely report events. It shapes how societies understand countries, people, policies and opportunities,” Eze said. Xu described Nigerian media organisations as “partners and friends, not enemies.” He offered to strengthen cooperation through professional exchanges, training programmes and seminars.