Russia Reaffirms Backing for China's Taiwan Stance in High-Level Security Talks
MOSCOW, Feb 1 (Reuters) — In a high-level meeting that highlighted the deepening strategic alignment between Moscow and Beijing, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu on Sunday assured Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi of Russia's "consistent and unwavering" support for China's stance on Taiwan, according to a report from the state news agency TASS.
The talks, focused on bilateral security issues, come as both nations face increasing pressure from Western capitals. Shoigu, a former defense minister and a key architect of Russia's security policy, emphasized that Moscow views the government of the People's Republic of China as "the only legitimate government representing all of China." He accused external actors—an apparent reference to the United States and its allies—of seeking to "destabilize the situation in the Taiwan Strait."
China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to achieve reunification. Beijing's offer of a "one country, two systems" framework, similar to the model applied in Hong Kong, has been uniformly rejected by Taiwan's major political parties. Russia has long echoed China's position, formally opposing any move toward Taiwanese independence.
For his part, Wang Yi stressed the "obligation" of China and Russia to champion multilateralism and work toward an "equal and orderly multipolar world," according to a readout from China's foreign ministry. He called for enhanced strategic communication and mutual support on issues touching each nation's "core interests" this year.
The meeting took place against a complex geopolitical backdrop. It coincided with reported, separate talks involving Russian, Ukrainian, and U.S. officials aimed at exploring paths to end the ongoing war in Ukraine—a conflict where China has maintained a stance of formal neutrality while deepening economic and political ties with Russia.
Taiwan's foreign ministry swiftly condemned Shoigu's remarks, stating they "severely undermine our nation's sovereignty" and labeling such rhetoric as "bullying behavior that undermines international peace and stability."
The Shoigu-Wang dialogue is the latest in a series of high-level contacts since the two nations declared a "no limits" strategic partnership in early 2022, shortly before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Analysts view the reaffirmation on Taiwan as both a diplomatic courtesy and a strategic signal to Washington, underscoring the resilience of the Beijing-Moscow axis despite international isolation efforts.
Reaction & Analysis
Dr. Anya Petrova, Senior Fellow at the Eurasian Strategy Institute (Moscow): "This is a reaffirmation of a long-standing policy, but its timing is significant. It reinforces to the West that attempts to isolate either Russia or China will only push them closer together on fundamental security issues, creating a more consolidated counterweight."
James Miller, Editor-at-Large, 'The Global Security Review' (London): "The rhetoric is predictable, yet the consistency is the story. Every high-level meeting now includes this ritual affirmation on Taiwan. It's become a cornerstone of the partnership, effectively making Taiwan a card in the broader great-power contest between this axis and the U.S.-led order."
Professor Li Wei, Institute of International Relations (Shanghai): "The meeting demonstrates the high level of strategic trust and coordination. It sends a clear message that core interests like sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable for both sides, and that they will back each other diplomatically against external interference."
Mark Kovacs, Former Diplomat & Commentator (Washington D.C.): "It's cynical and dangerous. Moscow, itself an aggressor violating territorial integrity in Europe, parroting Beijing's line on Taiwan is the height of hypocrisy. This isn't about principle; it's a transactional alliance of autocrats against the democratic world, and the West needs to wake up to the coordinated challenge."