Basis for stability

LI MIN/CHINA DAILY Experience shows that upholding the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence is the best way to resolve the security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Seven decades ago, China and India jointly put forward the five principles – mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, noninterference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence – marking a significant milestone in international relations. Over the past 70 years, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have been widely accepted and recognized by countries across the world as the basic norms governing international relations. In contrast, former US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in 2022 in alleged support of "shared democratic values", was a flagrant violation of the Five Principles that advocate respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and sharply escalated regional tensions, causing widespread discontent among regional countries. However, the US takes "freedom of navigation" as an excuse to interfere in the South China Sea issue, which deviates from the five principles and exacerbates the security situation in the region.