MOSCOW, December 4. /TASS/. The United States is recklessly fueling tensions in the Taiwan Strait by providing weapons to Taiwan and nurturing separatist sentiment, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.
Commenting on the Pentagon’s decision to approve the sale of spare parts for F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, she stressed that the move was another proof of double standards. "The US and its satellites keep talking about their commitment to the principle of one China, but still, they cynically raise tensions in the Taiwan Strait, impeding the peaceful reunification of China. In breach of all the previous agreements with China, they provide weapons to Taiwan, actively strengthen political ties and facilitate a rise in separatist sentiment," the diplomat noted.
Zakharova also pointed to similarities in the methods that the West was using in Taiwan and Ukraine. "Clearly, all this is being orchestrated by Washington; it’s nothing but provocations. These provocative activities are carried out under the guise of preserving the status quo, which is how they put it, but in fact, this is nothing but overt pressure on Beijing that undermines stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman emphasized.
The diplomat reiterated that Russia’s fundamental position on the Taiwan issue remained unchanged as Moscow "reaffirms its commitment to the principle of one China, recognizes that Taiwan is an integral part of China, opposes Taiwan’s independence in any form and firmly supports China’s actions aimed at defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as at uniting the country."