Turkmenistan backs One China principle - Foreign Ministry

ASHGABAT. Jan 15 (Interfax) - Turkmenistan has declared its unwavering support for the One China principle and reaffirmed that the Chinese government is the only legitimate government representing the whole of China, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry's press service said.

"Turkmenistan, which has the internationally recognized status of permanent neutrality, is pursuing its foreign policy in strict compliance with the provisions of international law. In this regard, based on the United Nations Charter, one of the fundamental principles of which is honoring countries' territorial integrity, Turkmenistan declares its firm support for the One China principle and reaffirms that the Chinese government is the only legitimate government representing the whole of China," the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its official website.

Taiwan held elections for the local chief executive and members of the island's Legislative Yuan (parliament) on Saturday. Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-te won the presidential election.

The Taiwan issue arose in 1949 when the People's Republic of China was proclaimed and part of China's Kuomintang Party settled on Taiwan Island, naming the island the Republic of China on Taiwan. Beijing insists on the One China principle, under which states cannot recognize both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China on Taiwan at the same time. At the same time, almost all major countries have unofficial Taipei cultural and economic offices.