Russia: China has every right to carry out Taiwan drills, respond to provocations

Russia says China has every right to conduct military drills around Taiwan and to respond to repeated provocations against Beijing.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Monday conducted the last day of its three-day aerial and naval exercises around Taiwan, including blockade maneuvers of the self-ruled island, which is viewed by China as an inseparable part of its territory.

The military drills, designed to flex Beijing's military muscles in front of Taiwan's secessionist government and its US-led Western backers, were launched in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's recent meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other American officials.

"In a very short period of time, you and I have witnessed repeated actions that have been provocative toward the People's Republic of China," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov at a press conference, adding everyone should respect China and its actions, which are in line with international law.

"And, of course, China has the sovereign right to respond to these provocative actions, including conducting military maneuvers in strict compliance with international law," he said.

China has sovereignty over Taiwan, and under the ‘One China’ policy, almost all world countries recognize that sovereignty. The United States has also recognized Chinese sovereignty over the island, but has long courted Taiwan in an attempt to unnerve Beijing.

The US, which backs Taiwan's secessionist president, also continues to sell weapons to the self-ruled island in defiance of Beijing and in violation of its own official policy. Washington is Taiwan’s main supplier of military equipment.

China has vowed to take Taiwan back one day, even by force if necessary.

China kicks off second day of military drills near Taiwan amid tensions

Chinese army launches the second day of military drills near Chinese Taipei.

Tsai, who returned on Friday from her provocative visit to the US, however, has downplayed the drills, vowing to continue her efforts with "the US and other like-minded countries" for secession.

Last summer, China deployed warships, missiles, and fighter jets around Taiwan in its largest show of force in years following a trip to the island in August 2022 by McCarthy's predecessor, Nancy Pelosi.

The three-day Joint Sword drills began just hours after the departure of French President Emmanuel Macron from Beijing, who was in China to urge his counterpart Xi Jinping to help bring an end to the war in Ukraine, and to "bring Russia back to its senses" over the ex-Soviet republic.

China imposes sanctions on two US organizations over hosting Taiwan's President

China imposes sanctions on two US organizations over Taiwan

Elsewhere in his remarks, Peskov suggested that France could not broker a peace in Ukraine as Paris is "both indirectly and directly involved in this conflict on the side of Ukraine. Therefore, it is still difficult to imagine any mediation efforts here."

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman late last month said China is ready to boost cooperation with the Russian military in order to jointly uphold international justice, peace and security.

Last February, days before Russia's war began in Ukraine, President Xi and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, struck a “no limits” partnership.

China has blamed the US and NATO for “provoking” Moscow over the Ukraine war and has condemned Western sanctions against Russia imposed over the war.

Russia has also strongly backed China amid recent tensions between Beijing and Washington over the US political and military interference in Taiwan.

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