India
oi-Prakash KL
Moscow,
Aug
02:
Russia
has
backed
China’s
decision
to
launch
a
series
of
“targeted”
operations
to
counter
US
House
of
Representatives
Speaker
Nancy
Pelosi’s
trip
to
Taiwan.
In
a
statement,
Russia’s
foreign
ministry
said
China
has
the
right
to
take
measures
to
protect
its
sovereignty.
President
Vladimir
Putin
China
on
Tuesday
warned
that
US
House
Speaker
Nancy
Pelosi’s
visit
to
Taiwan
disregarding
its
stern
warnings
will
have
a
“severe
impact”
on
bilateral
ties
and
it
“gravely
undermines”
regional
peace
and
stability,
as
the
official
media
here
said
that
the
military
will
launch
a
series
of
“targeted”
operations
to
counter
her
trip.
Despite
warnings
from
China,
Pelosi
landed
in
Taiwan
on
Tuesday
night.
Earlier,
the
Kremlin
strongly
warned
the
US
against
provoking
China
with
a
trip
to
Taiwan
by
US
House
Speaker
Nancy
Pelosi,
saying
it
will
raise
tensions
to
a
new
dangerous
level.
Kremlin
spokesman
Dmitry
Peskov
said
that
such
a
visit
would
be
“extremely
provocative”,
adding
that
it
would
“exacerbate
the
situation
in
the
region
and
fuel
tensions”.
Speaking
in
a
call
with
reporters,
Peskov
reaffirmed
Russia’s
“absolute
solidarity”
with
China,
noting
that
the
issue
of
Taiwan
is
very
sensitive
for
Beijing.
“Instead
of
dealing
with
this
sensitivity
with
respect,
the
US
has
regrettably
chosen
the
path
of
confrontation,”
he
added.
“It
will
bring
no
good,
we
can
only
express
regret.”
Peskov’s
comments
reflected
close
ties
between
Moscow
and
Beijing,
which
have
grown
stronger
since
Russia
sent
its
troops
into
Ukraine
on
February
24.
China
has
pointedly
refused
to
criticize
Russia’s
action,
blaming
the
US
and
NATO
for
provoking
Moscow,
and
has
blasted
punishing
sanctions
imposed
on
Moscow.
Russia
and
China
have
held
a
series
of
joint
war
games
in
recent
years,
including
naval
drills
and
patrols
by
long-range
bombers
over
the
Sea
of
Japan
and
the
East
China
Sea.
After
landing
in
Taiwan,
Pelosi
on
Tuesday
said
that
the
US’ solidarity
with
the
23
million
people
of
Taiwan
is
more
important
today
than
ever.
She
reaffirmed
her
country’s
unwavering
commitment
to
supporting
Taiwan’s
democracy
and
said
this
trip
in
no
way
contradicts
longstanding
United
States
policy
on
the
self-governed
island.
She
said,
“Our
Congressional
delegation’s
visit
to
Taiwan
honors
America’s
unwavering
commitment
to
supporting
Taiwan’s
vibrant
Democracy.”
“Our
visit
is
part
of
our
broader
trip
to
the
Indo-Pacific
–
including
Singapore,
Malaysia,
South
Korea
and
Japan
–
focused
on
mutual
security,
economic
partnership
and
democratic
governance.
Our
discussions
with
Taiwan
leadership
will
focus
on
reaffirming
our
support
for
our
partner
and
on
promoting
our
shared
interests,
including
advancing
a
free
and
open
Indo-Pacific
region.
America’s
solidarity
with
the
23
million
people
of
Taiwan
is
more
important
today
than
ever,
as
the
world
faces
a
choice
between
autocracy
and
democracy,”
the
US
House
Speaker
said
in
a
statement.
Taiwan
and
China
split
in
1949
following
a
civil
war
that
ended
with
a
communist
victory
on
the
mainland.
They
have
no
official
relations
but
are
linked
by
billions
of
dollars
of
trade
and
investment.
Both
sides
say
they
are
one
country
but
disagree
over
which
government
is
entitled
to
national
leadership.
