Shoigu backs China’s position on Taiwan, says Russia watching Japan’s ‘militarization’

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that ​Moscow continues to support Beijing over Taiwan, as Russia keeps a close eye on Japan’s “accelerated militarization,” the TASS state news agency ‍reported.

China and Russia have forged close ties in ‍recent years and declared a “no limits” strategic partnership days before Russian President Vladimir Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has not renounced using force to ‍bring it under its control. Beijing has offered Taiwan a “one country, two systems” model, similar to Hong Kong, though no major political party in Taiwan supports this.

Russia ‌has repeatedly said it opposes Taiwan’s independence in any form and considers the island an inseparable part ​of China.

“We see that China’s ‌ill-wishers continue to destabilize 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 quoted Shoigu as saying Sunday.

“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.

Russia is also “closely monitoring the policy of accelerated militarization being pursued in Japan,” Shoigu told Wang.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s hint last year in parliament that a naval blockade in the vicinity of Taiwan could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” — potentially triggering the mobilization of the Self-Defense Forces — triggered a diplomatic uproar with Beijing, sending relations with China plummeting to fresh lows.

China — which views Taiwan as “the core of its core interests” and has vowed to bring the island under its control, by force if necessary — has demanded that Takaichi retract and reflect on her remarks, something the popular prime minister has refused to do.

Last month, Japan’s Cabinet approved a defense budget request exceeding ¥9 trillion ($58 billion) for the first time ever, including some ¥100 billion to build a drone “shield” to help defend the country’s southwestern periphery amid rising concerns over Chinese military moves near Taiwan.

Shoigu, a former Russian defense minister, arrived in China earlier on Sunday. The Russian Security Council said Shoigu and Wang would meet to discuss security issues.

Wang said China and Russia have an “obligation” to practice multilateralism ‍and ‍to advocate for an equal and orderly multipolar world, according to a readout from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

China’s top diplomat called on ‍both countries to maintain close communication on major issues related to bilateral relations, and increase mutual support for each other’s core interests.

China is willing to work with Russia to strengthen strategic communication, deepen strategic coordination and enhance ‌bilateral ties this year, Wang said.

The trip coincides with talks between Russia, Ukraine and U.S. officials aimed at ending the almost four-year-long conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Shoigu also met Wang in December in Moscow.

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