Moscow, Dec. 28: Russia opposes Taiwan’s independence in any form and views the island as an inseparable part of China, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Russia’s TASS state news agency.

Lavrov reaffirmed that Moscow’s position on the Taiwan issue is well known, has not changed, and has been confirmed repeatedly at the highest level, adding that Russia recognises Taiwan as part of China and rejects any move toward independence, TASS news reported.

Lavrov also urged Japan to “think carefully” about what he described as a course toward militarisation, warning that Tokyo’s recent moves could have a negative impact on regional stability, according to TASS.

In the same interview, Lavrov suggested that Western countries “are not averse to profiting from Taiwan’s money and technology”, saying that the sale of expensive Western weapons to Taipei and efforts to shift semiconductor production to the United States can be seen as a form of economic pressure on China, TASS reported.

These comments reflect Russia’s continued support for China’s sovereignty claims and concern over shifts in security dynamics in East Asia, as expressed by the foreign minister to TASS.-Agencies