In the shadow of the growing tensions between China and Taiwan, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putinparticipated in the International Security Conference in Moscow and this morning (Tuesday) attacked the USA, referring to the visit of Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, to Taiwan. According to him, “Pelosi’s visit is a thoroughly planned provocation”. Later, he referred to the ongoing war in Ukraine, and accused the Americans of “trying to prolong the war in Europe”.
In the meantime, the Russian president came out strongly against the NATO alliance, saying that “Western countries are trying to expand the security alliance to the Asia and Pacific region”. At the same time, the Russian Minister of Defense, Sergi Shoigu, said that “Sweden and Finland’s joining NATO will cause Russia to intensify its approach to security issues.” Shoigu referred to the war in Ukraine, and emphasized that “the actions of the Ukrainian army are planned by the United States and Great Britain.” He also said that “Russia has no need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.”
As you remember, Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan earlier this month. Her visit caused a great uproar in the region, after China’s threats that “the US is playing with fire.” Russia joined the Chinese statement, calling the visit “a provocation aimed at pressuring Beijing.”
In response to Pelosi’s visit, the Chinese military has entered high alert and will launch “targeted military operations,” China’s Ministry of Defense said. At the same time, the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command said it will conduct joint military operations near Taiwan, including joint air and sea exercises in the north, southwest, and southeast of Taiwan, long-range live fire in the Taiwan Strait, and the launch of missile tests in the sea east of Taiwan.
Pelosi, for her part, arrived in Taiwan with a clear message to China, saying that the US commitment to a democratic Taiwan is more important than ever. “The visit of our congressional delegation to Taiwan honors America’s unwavering commitment to support Taiwan’s vibrant democracy,” Pelosi said in a statement shortly after landing. “America’s solidarity with the 23 million residents of Taiwan is more important today than ever, as the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy.”