Taiwan has strongly criticised Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for asserting that it is an "integral part of China," stating that the Chinese Communist Party regime has never governed Taiwan.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Taiwan issued a statement rebuking Lavrov's remarks, reiterating that neither Taiwan nor China holds dominance over the other. The ministry emphasised that Taiwan has never been under the governance of the Chinese Communist Party regime, according to Taiwan News.

The ministry described Taiwan as a "modern democratic country" that embraces human rights and upholds the rule of law.

The ministry emphasised that no distorted narrative undermining Taiwan's sovereign status could change the globally recognised status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

According to Taiwan News, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov asserted on Tuesday that Taiwan is an integral part of China, prompting a swift condemnation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The ministry denounced Lavrov's remarks as "false claims" during a joint news conference with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing.

Lavrov stated during the press briefing that Taiwan is an "integral part of China" and "an internal affair of the People's Republic of China."

According to Taiwan News, the Ministry stated that the "collusion" between Moscow and Beijing does not contribute to stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region. It remarked that the "authoritarian convergence" of the two nations inflicts "serious damage" to international peace, stability, and the rules-based world order.

MOFA asserted that Taiwan stands on the strategic front line, safeguarding the values of democracy and freedom in the Indo-Pacific region. Regarding Taiwan's stance on defending its national sovereignty, the ministry affirmed that it remains staunch and unchanged.

Furthermore, MOFA emphasised that Taiwan remains committed to enhancing collaboration with like-minded nations to jointly resist China's rhetorical and military intimidation and to curb authoritarian expansionism.

The Ministry concluded by stating that this commitment would ensure peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and promote international economic security and prosperity.

Meanwhile, in an official post on X, Taiwan's Foreign Ministry expressed gratitude towards US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for their reaffirmation of stability in the Taiwan Strait following the first-ever trilateral summit in Washington, DC.

Biden emphasised the strengthened alliance, stating, "Together, Prime Minister Kishida and I have strengthened this Alliance and expanded our work. We have raised our shared ambitions. And now, the US-Japan Alliance is a beacon to the entire world. There’s no limit to what our countries and our people can do together."

Image source: ANI