JAKARTA - Russia has reiterated its rejection of any form of independence for Taiwan and expressed full support for China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, amid rising geopolitical tensions in East Asia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow's position on Taiwan is clear, consistent, and repeatedly emphasized at the highest level of the Russian government.
"Russia recognizes Taiwan as an integral part of China and opposes any form of independence for the island," Lavrov said, quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, December 28.
He added that Russia departs from the principle that the Taiwan issue is an internal affair of the People's Republic of China (PRC).
According to him, Beijing has a legitimate legal basis to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity from any form of threat.
Regarding the potential escalation of tensions in the Taiwan Strait, which separates the Chinese mainland from the island, Lavrov stated that Russia would support China in its efforts to protect its national unity.
He referred to the Russia-China friendship agreement signed in 2001 and renewed in 2021 for the next five years.
On the same occasion, Lavrov also criticized Japan's security policy.
He assessed that the Tokyo government had "taken a path towards accelerated militarization", a move he considered risky for regional stability.
"The adverse impact of this approach on regional stability is very clear. Our neighbors in Japan should consider the situation carefully before making hasty decisions," he said.
Lavrov's statement came amid rising tensions between Beijing and Tokyo since November 7, when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said China's possible attack on Taiwan could be categorized as a situation that threatened Japan's survival.
The comments triggered a strong reaction from China, including calls for travel restrictions to Japan and the reintroduction of a ban on Japanese seafood imports as part of diplomatic countermeasures.
Meanwhile, Japanese local media, Friday, reported that the country's cabinet had approved the largest defense budget draft in history, worth 9.04 trillion yen or about 58 billion US dollars, for the 2026 fiscal year, a move that again drew criticism from Beijing.
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