The Chinese government has reaffirmed that Nigeria’s adherence to the one-China policy remains central to diplomatic and economic relations between both countries, warning against what it described as attempts by Taiwanese authorities to undermine the longstanding partnership between Abuja and Beijing.
The position was restated on Thursday in Abuja by Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Dong Hairong, during a Media Salon themed “Understanding the One China Principle,” where she urged Nigerian institutions and journalists to remain aligned with Nigeria’s official diplomatic position on Taiwan.
China’s renewed push comes amid growing global tensions around Taiwan and increasing diplomatic competition between Beijing and Taipei across Africa, where China has significantly expanded its economic and political influence over the last two decades. Nigeria officially recognises the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government representing China, a position first adopted in 1971 when diplomatic ties were established between both countries.
Speaking at the event, Dong said recent developments — including visits by some Nigerian journalists to Taiwan and renewed calls by Taiwanese officials for the relocation of Taiwan’s trade office back to Abuja — had raised concerns within the Chinese government.
“We have also witnessed a small group of Nigerian journalists visiting Taiwan recently and meeting with officials from Taiwan’s external affairs department,” she said. “The Taiwan side even clamoured to push for relocating its trade office in Nigeria back to Abuja.”
The envoy stressed that Nigeria had repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to the one-China principle through several bilateral agreements and diplomatic communiqués signed over the years. She referenced the 1971 joint communiqué establishing diplomatic relations and President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to China in September 2024, during which Nigeria again endorsed Beijing’s position that Taiwan is “an inalienable part of China’s territory.”
Nigeria’s decision in 2017 to relocate Taiwan’s trade mission from Abuja to Lagos remains one of the most sensitive diplomatic issues between China and Taiwan in West Africa. At the time, the Federal Government insisted the office would function strictly as a non-diplomatic trade mission, a move Beijing openly welcomed while Taipei criticised it as political pressure from China.
Dong argued that the political understanding between both countries had strengthened economic cooperation, citing major Chinese-backed infrastructure projects in Nigeria and the wider West African region. She pointed to the recently completed ECOWAS headquarters complex in Abuja, constructed with Chinese support, as evidence of Beijing’s long-term commitment to Africa.
She also disclosed that China had begun implementing zero-tariff treatment for exports from 53 African countries with diplomatic relations with Beijing from May 1, a policy expected to benefit Nigerian agricultural exports including cocoa, ginger, sesame and cashew. According to her, the arrangement could boost Nigeria’s access to the Chinese market and improve the international competitiveness of locally made products.
The Chinese diplomat drew a sharp contrast between Beijing’s economic footprint in Nigeria and Taiwan’s limited commercial engagement, stating that annual trade between China and Nigeria exceeds $28 billion, compared to Taiwan’s estimated $1.6 billion trade volume with the country.
Dong also cautioned Nigerian journalists against what she described as legitimising separatist narratives through media reporting. She urged news organisations to avoid describing Taiwan as a country or referring to Taiwanese representatives in Nigeria as ambassadors.
Her remarks are likely to reignite conversations around Nigeria’s balancing act between economic diplomacy and geopolitical neutrality, especially as China continues to deepen its strategic influence across Africa through infrastructure financing, trade partnerships and development support.
China remains Nigeria’s largest bilateral trading partner and one of the country’s biggest infrastructure financiers, with investments spanning rail, aviation, power and telecommunications projects. Analysts say Beijing’s strong reaction to Taiwan-related activities underscores the importance it attaches to protecting its territorial claims globally.
