Russia has issued a strong warning on Taiwan as global power rivalries sharpen. Sergey Lavrov said Moscow firmly opposes Taiwanese independence, calling the island an integral part of China. Lavrov also said in the interview, released Sunday, that Japan’s leadership is seeking to accelerate militarization – in remarks seen as a warning to Tokyo.
MOSCOW DECEMBER 29: Russia has issued a strong warning on Taiwan as global power rivalries sharpen. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow firmly opposes Taiwanese independence, calling the island an integral part of China.
Speaking to Russia’s TASS news agency, Lavrov stressed that Russia’s position on Taiwan remains principled, consistent, and unchanged, underscoring deepening alignment between Moscow and Beijing amid rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
Lavrov also said in the interview, released Sunday, that Japan’s leadership is seeking to accelerate militarization, citing defense spending increases under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration, in remarks seen as a warning to Tokyo.
China has launched live-fire drills around Taiwan, deploying air, navy and rocket troops for war games that its military said were aimed at testing combat readiness and delivering a “stern warning” against “separatist” and “external interference” forces. Chinese President Xi Jinping has directed the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to be ready to militarily seize Taiwan by 2027.
Russia agreed in 2023 to supply the PLA with a complete set of weapons and equipment to equip an airborne battalion, as well as other special equipment necessary for airborne infiltration of special forces, along with a full cycle of training for operators and technical personnel to use this equipment.
