Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu tells Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that Moscow remains steadfast in backing Beijing’s stance on Taiwan, underscoring the close China-Russia strategic partnership
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu on Sunday told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that Moscow continues to back Beijing on the Taiwan issue, according to a Reuters report, citing state news agency TASS.
In recent years, China and Russia have strengthened their ties, declaring a “no limits” strategic partnership just days before Russian President Vladimir Putin deployed tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine in February 2022.
China considers democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control.
Beijing has proposed a “one country, two systems” framework, similar to Hong Kong, though it has no support from major political parties in Taiwan.
Russia has consistently opposed any form of Taiwanese independence, regarding the island as an inseparable part of China.
“We see that China’s ill‑wishers continue to destabilise the situation in the Taiwan Strait. For our part, I want to reaffirm our consistent and unwavering support for Beijing on the Taiwan issue,” TASS news agency quoted Shoigu as saying.
“We proceed from the fact that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing all of China,” he added.
Shoigu, a former Russian defence minister, arrived in China earlier on Sunday. The Russian Security Council said Shoigu and Wang Yi would meet to discuss security issues.
The trip coincides with talks between Russia, Ukraine and US officials aimed at ending the almost four-year long conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Shoigu also met Wang in December in Moscow.
With inputs from agencies
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