TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Saturday (Nov. 9) condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comments that Taiwan was trying to provoke China to win international backing.
Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in the Russian city of Sochi on Thursday (Nov. 7), Putin compared Taiwan to Ukraine. While supporting China’s claims over Taiwan, he denied that Beijing was behaving aggressively and accused Taipei of escalating confrontation to trigger a crisis.
Putin was turning the situation on its head and using a confused logic, MOFA said. The ministry emphasized that Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China are two different entities, with the Chinese Communist Party never having ruled Taiwan.
Ukraine is fighting for its survival against the invasion launched by Russia, MOFA said. Adopting sanctions against Russia is an expression of shared values, while Taiwan is steadfast in defending its sovereignty and on the front line of protecting freedom and democracy, according to MOFA.
It is not Taiwan’s actions but the cooperation between China and Russia in breaking the rules-based international order that poses the most serious threat to global peace, the ministry concluded.