• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Russia reiterates opposition to Taiwan independence

PLA Daily 2003-12-03

MOSCOW, Dec. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that Moscow opposes any form of independence in Taiwan, noting that Taiwan is an integral part of China.

"We find it necessary to confirm Russia's fundamental stance on the Taiwan issue in light of planned referendums in Taiwan," the ministry said in a statement commenting on Chen Shuibian's latest proposal of holding a "defensive referendum" in March 2004 in Taiwan.

"Russia's position is that there is only one China in the world. The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China, while Taiwan is an integral part of China," the statement said.

"Russia has always considered the Taiwan issue as China's internal affair," it said.

The ministry also expressed the hope that "the Taiwan problem will be settled without any damage to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region."