The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday condemned comments by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Taiwan is a part of China, and that the West is attempting to escalate global tensions.
Putin made the comments on Thursday in response to reporters’ questions following a keynote speech to the Valdai International Discussion Club, a Moscow-based think tank closely associated with the Russian leader.
The US was wrong to destroy its relations with China over Taiwan, he said.
Photo: Yang Cheng-yu, Taipei Times
Russia recognizes that Taiwan is “without any doubt an integral part” of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Putin said.
Visits to Taiwan by US officials, including US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi — whom Putin called “grandma” — are a provocation, he said, adding: “Why they do it, I honestly don’t know.”
The ministry said in a statement that Taiwan is an independent, sovereign nation, and is not subordinate to the PRC, of which it has never been a part.
Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and indiscriminate killing of civilians have been condemned by democracies worldwide, it said.
Putin and his government are deliberately using Western “provocation” on the Taiwan issue to confuse and divert attention from its war against Ukraine, the ministry said, adding that Taiwan would continue to support Ukrainians who are fighting Russian aggression.
Beijing is the actual provocateur, clearly shown by its intensified deployment of navy and air force craft to intimidate Taiwan, as well its engagement in cognitive warfare to degrade morale, the ministry said.
In the face of China’s long-term provocations, Taiwan is working closely with like-minded partners worldwide to strengthen its self-defense capabilities and defend the universal values of democracy, freedom and rules-based international order, it added.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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