China and Russia comment on military exercises around Taiwan

China explained the exercises around Taiwan as “protecting sovereignty and deterring foreign armies.”

This was reported by Ukrinform.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that the PLA exercises near the island are aimed at “protecting state sovereignty and territorial integrity” and are “a decisive response to the actions of external forces that are trying to use Taiwan to deter China, arm the island, and push the situation in the strait to the dangerous brink of war.”

The diplomat also accused the Taiwanese administration of seeking to “turn the island into a powder keg.”

According to him, the so-called Taiwan issue is China’s fundamental interest. Any step aimed at crossing the “red line” will face a decisive response from China.

At the same time, Lin evaded a direct answer as to whether the maneuvers were related to Washington’s recent approval of an aid package for Taipei worth $11.1 billion.

At the same time, the Russian Federation has publicly supported the position of the PRC. This is reported by “Militarnyi”.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow considers Taiwan an integral part of China, opposes any forms of independence for the island and places responsibility for the escalation on the West.

Lavrov also recalled the 2001 agreement between the Russian Federation and the PRC, which provides for mutual support in matters of “territorial integrity”.

As a reminder, the Eastern Operational Command of the PLA, within the framework of Mission/Justice 2025, is practicing joint actions of the fleet, aviation and missile forces with elements of blockade of key ports and deterrence of the approach of foreign forces beyond the island chain.

Taiwan records almost daily activity of Chinese aircraft and ships around the island and declares readiness for a “rapid response.”