2 Aug 2022 21:42

Russian Foreign Ministry views Pelosi's Taiwan visit as provocation

MOSCOW. Aug 2 (Interfax) - A visit of United States House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan is a provocation, and China has the right to take measures to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"We regard her visit as a clear provocation in the spirit of the U.S. aggressive policy of comprehensive deterrence of China," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

"We believe that relations between the sides of the Taiwan Strait are a purely internal matter of China. The Chinese side has the right to take measures needed to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the Taiwan issue," the statement said.

Russia's principled stance is unwavering, "we believe that there is only one China, the Chinese government is the only legitimate government representing the entire China, and Taiwan is an integral part of China," it said.

"In the joint statement of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China on international relations entering the new era and the global sustainable development adopted following the talks of the leaders of our countries in Beijing on February 4, 2022, the Russian side reiterated its commitment to the 'one China' principle and spoke against the island's independence in any form," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"We urge Washington to refrain from actions undermining regional stability and international security and acknowledge the new geopolitical reality where there is no place for American hegemony anymore," it said.