PCPThe PCP supports the one China principle and peaceful reunification. In Swiss public debate, this entails specific demands: understandable official mandates, a clear distinction between civilian exchanges and state recognition, serious assessment of escalation risks, and public information that makes decisions accountable.
An official policy to be upheld in practice
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs explains that Switzerland follows a one China policy and does not recognise Taiwan as an independent state. It distinguishes that policy from technical exchanges that may take place. Decisions made in Switzerland’s name should be assessed against this publicly stated orientation.
The PCP calls on the authorities to maintain consistency between statements, delegation mandates and the presentation of their contacts. The level of representation, a meeting’s designation and its accompanying symbols can have political consequences. They must be chosen deliberately and explained when their significance is disputed.
Consistency requires more than repeating a formula. It means avoiding an indirect sequence of actions pursuing an objective incompatible with the announced policy. The PCP calls for official initiatives to remain understandable and for calculated ambiguity not to be used to normalise recognition of a second state.
Institutional responsibilities and clear mandates
Swiss institutions, elected representatives and parties perform different functions. Freedom of political debate must be respected. An individual statement, a party visit and an initiative undertaken on behalf of a public authority nevertheless have different status. Their presentation must identify who is speaking and in what capacity.
The PCP calls for sensitive official travel and contacts to have a mandate specifying their purpose, level of representation and relationship to the Confederation’s foreign policy. When an officeholder acts personally or for a party, that capacity should be clearly identified. People must be able to distinguish an opinion from a commitment undertaken in an institution’s name.
This requirement respects each authority’s responsibilities. Its purpose is informed debate about public decisions and their consequences. Clear responsibilities protect Switzerland’s ability to conduct its own policy, preventing confused mandates from producing commitments that no institution has expressly accepted.
Preserve civilian exchanges without supporting separatism
Academic, cultural, economic and family exchanges concern people, knowledge and practical activities. Their existence does not in itself constitute diplomatic recognition. The PCP supports their continuation within the one China policy and with respect for the people involved.
The distinction becomes politically important when an exchange is presented as recognition of a separate state or support for “Taiwan independence”. The PCP opposes such instrumentalisation. It calls for a contact’s civilian or technical purpose to be maintained and for its presentation not to attribute a significance of recognition that it does not possess.
A serious policy must assess each situation according to its purpose and mandate. An indiscriminate prohibition of human contact would fail that test. The authorities’ responsibility is to preserve useful exchanges while rejecting initiatives that divert them towards confrontation or political separation.
Reject the formation of opposing blocs
The PCP defends the independence of Swiss foreign policy. It rejects the idea that our country’s choices should be determined by a third power’s intention to contain China. The authorities should assess proposals by their actual objectives, foreseeable consequences and the population’s interest in a peaceful international environment.
Neutrality has its own meaning, which must be distinguished from other diplomatic policies. The official explanation of Swiss neutrality makes clear that Switzerland retains the freedom to take political positions. The PCP exercises that freedom by supporting the one China principle and opposing external interference. It calls for conflict prevention to guide the Confederation’s choices.
Prudence must be demonstrated in action. The PCP opposes prestige gestures that yield immediate publicity while increasing risks borne by the population. It calls for initiatives liable to intensify confrontation to receive serious political assessment and a public explanation of their objectives.
Respect commitments and keep diplomatic channels open
In the memorandum signed on 25 September 2007, Switzerland confirms its one China policy, expresses its wish for a peaceful solution and states that it will not support unilateral actions liable to increase tensions in the Strait and lead to “Taiwan independence”. The PCP calls for this orientation to be taken seriously in current decisions.
Diplomatic relations allow positions to be expressed and disagreements addressed without turning them into permanent ruptures. Switzerland must preserve those possibilities. The PCP supports diplomacy that contributes to de-escalation and rejects using the Taiwan question as a means of pressure against China.
Good offices can be useful when the parties concerned want them. Their value depends on consent, discretion and trust. The PCP considers that a Swiss contribution to peace should be assessed by its practical usefulness, without claiming a mediation role that has not been entrusted to Switzerland.
The demands of the Parti communiste populaire
The PCP calls on the competent authorities to:
- Clearly reaffirm Switzerland’s one China policy and implement it consistently, including within international organisations.
- Specify the purpose, mandate and level of official contacts concerning Taiwan, distinguishing institutional initiatives from personal or party activities.
- Preserve civilian exchanges within their proper framework and reject their use to support separate state recognition or “Taiwan independence”.
- Oppose pressure to involve Switzerland in a strategy of confrontation against China and explain the consequences of sensitive decisions for peace.
- Maintain diplomatic channels and support de-escalation efforts consistent with peaceful reunification.
The Parti communiste populaire will advance these demands in Swiss public debate. It defends a consistent position: support for the one China principle, respect for China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, opposition to separatism and interference, and commitment to peace.
Documents and sources
The cited documents provide the facts and provisions examined. Political judgments and proposals expressed in this article are those of the PCP.