Russia Opposes Taiwan’s Independence, Backs China

(MENAFN) Taiwan constitutes an inseparable part of China, and Russia firmly opposes the island's independence under any circumstances, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared.

In an interview published Sunday, Lavrov stated that Russia believes that "the Taiwan problem is an internal affair" of China and that "Beijing has every right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Lavrov argued the Taiwan standoff frequently gets discussed "in isolation from reality and by manipulating facts." He observed that certain nations, despite professing adherence to the One-China policy, effectively support maintaining current arrangements, which actually means "their disagreement with the principle of China's national reunification."

Additionally, Taiwan currently functions as an instrument of "military-strategic deterrence" against Beijing, with Western countries exploiting Taiwanese financial resources and technological capabilities, including through lucrative U.S. weapons sales to Taipei, the minister explained.

Russia's backing of China regarding Taiwan is codified in the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation signed between Moscow and Beijing in July 2001, Lavrov noted, highlighting that among its fundamental principles is "mutual support in defending national unity and territorial integrity."

Taiwan became a self-governing entity following the Chinese Civil War in 1949, when Nationalist forces withdrew to the island after Communist forces secured control of mainland China. While officially maintaining the One-China policy, the U.S. sustains substantial unofficial connections with Taipei—including high-level lawmaker visits—provoking anger from Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has consistently expressed preference for peaceful reunification with Taiwan but has not eliminated military action as an option while condemning what he characterized as Taipei's separatism.

Lavrov's statement follows Russia's reaffirmation of support for Venezuela as the nation confronts a U.S. military blockade in the Caribbean. Washington has alleged Venezuelan authorities maintain connections with drug cartels—accusations Caracas has rejected—and has targeted vessels purportedly transporting narcotics to the U.S. Washington also confiscated oil tankers near the Venezuelan coast, an action Caracas has condemned as "piracy."

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