TAIPEI (TVBS News) — China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (中華人民共和國外交部), the diplomatic arm of the People's Republic of China, issued a pointed rebuke Tuesday (April 22) regarding the Vatican's ongoing engagement with Taiwan, asserting such interactions breach Beijing's fundamental "One China" principle. The statement emerged against the backdrop of Pope Francis's death at age 88 just one day earlier, as Chinese officials balanced diplomatic criticism with formal expressions of sympathy and renewed pledges to advance bilateral relations with the Holy See.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun (郭嘉昆) emphasized the positive trajectory of China-Vatican diplomacy over recent years during the official briefing. "China and the Vatican have maintained constructive contact and engaged in beneficial exchanges," Guo stated, underscoring Beijing's diplomatic narrative. When journalists pressed about potential Chinese representation at Pope Francis' upcoming funeral ceremonies, the spokesperson acknowledged no details had yet been determined regarding official attendance.
Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis pursued improved diplomatic channels with Beijing, most notably orchestrating a landmark provisional agreement regarding bishop appointments in 2018. This accord, subsequently renewed twice and extended for a four-year term in 2024, represented a significant diplomatic breakthrough. When confronted in a 2018 Reuters interview with allegations he had abandoned Chinese Catholics, Francis rejected such characterizations while acknowledging diplomatic engagement with China carried inherent risks — risks he explicitly preferred taking. His approach marked a distinct departure from predecessor Pope John Paul II's well-documented anti-communist position, earning Francis a reputation as considerably more accommodating toward Beijing. ★
