Tell me, what's your take on Taiwan? Because I think it might be a little bit different from what we hear in the West often.
Taiwan is only a piece on the geopolitical chessboard.
Many people support Taiwan, not because they know very much about Taiwan, or because they really love Taiwanese people, but because they see it as a way of somehow controlling China, keeping China down.
It's a way of poking China.
But they don't realize that, for China, Taiwan's a matter of historical justice.
Before the Second World War ended in the Cairo Conference, which was attended by Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt, and Chiang Kai-shek, it was already agreed that Taiwan would be restored to China after the war.
And in Potsdam, the Cairo Declaration was reaffirmed.
So, for China, all the victorious powers agreed that Taiwan is part of China.
It is a matter of time.
Of course, they prefer to be peaceful.
But they cannot give up the possibility of the use of force.
Anymore than Madrid can allow Catalonia to declare unilateral independence, or London agree to Scotland declaring unilateral independence.
So, you, that's not your preference because we're the same people.
But you cannot say I will not because if you don't, then independence is almost a foregone conclusion.
The Chinese see many Western powers talking about Taiwan as if it is just a card to be played.
But for them, no.
So, when the German Prime Minister, Baerbock, visited China recently, State Counselor Wang Yi said something which, to me, was deeply emotional.
He said, "We support the German reunification.
We hope Germany will support Chinese reunification."
And Germany was an aggressive power, whereas China was a victim.
So, if there was moral cause for German reunification, the moral cause for Chinese reunification is greater.
Now, does China want to invade Taiwan?
Of course not.
But frankly, I think many Europeans take positions without knowing the history.
And therefore, ambling into a minefield without realizing it is a minefield.
I remember the speaking notes I would always have when I met Chinese counterparts.
Remember to mention one China policy.
That was always, always the one.
But of course, Taiwan has now, I mean, do you see any parallels then between Russia and Ukraine? Because that would be probably the pushback that you would get.
This is about territorial integrity, sovereignty.
But your interpretation, of course, of the historical aspect of it is completely different from what we see in Russia and Ukraine.
So, I, I would assume you don't see those as similar in any which way.
No, the Chinese are consistent.
They say territorial boundaries should not be changed by force.
So, they oppose Russia changing territorial boundaries by force, as much as they oppose others wanting to keep Taiwan separate from China.
And they don't say it, but by implication, they oppose Russia's invasion.
But they also say that invasion has a history.
You can't see one snapshot and form a conclusion.
You have to watch the video.
And if you want a solution, you must watch the video.
You can't just look at a snapshot.