SOCHI, November 8. /TASS/. Some countries could be working to escalate the situation in East Asia by setting off a crisis around Taiwan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club.

"We don't believe China is pursuing an aggressive policy in the region. A lot of things revolve around Taiwan. Everyone formally recognizes that Taiwan is part of China. But in reality they act in a completely different fashion, working toward stoking tensions [in East Asia]. Why? Isn't it for the same reason they provoked the Ukrainian crisis? To create a crisis in Asia and then say to everyone, 'Guys, move closer to me because you can't handle it without me,'" he said.

"Maybe this logic works in Asia as well," the president continued.

According to Putin, some of the reasons why Russia supports China are that Beijing pursues an absolutely balanced policy and is an ally of Moscow.