Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Sunday that Russia recognizes China's territorial integrity and will defend it in the event of a conflict concerning Taiwan.

“Regarding a possible escalation of tensions in the Taiwan Strait, the procedure on Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation with China of July 16, 2001 (...), where one of the fundamental principles enshrined in this document is mutual support in protecting national unity and territorial integrity," Lavrov said in an interview with TASS. The Russian Foreign Minister thus reiterated that his country opposes the island's independence and considers it part of China. At the same time, he accused the West of stirring up tensions in the region for its own benefit. "Today, Taiwan is being used as a military-strategic containment tool against China. There is also a commercial interest: some in the West are not opposed to profiting from Taiwanese money and technology," he asserted. Furthermore, he accused the United States of arming Taiwan. "Expensive US weapons are being sold to Taiwan at market prices," he added.