Showing its continued support of close ally China, Russia called Taiwan’s plans to hold a referendum on whether to seek United Nations membership status a “political escapade”. From Reuters:
“We have been watching with unease Taiwan’s preparations to hold a referendum on joining the U.N. under the name of ‘Taiwan’,” Russia’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov said in remarks posted on the ministry’s site (www.mid.ru).
“We are deeply convinced that this political escapade, persistently promoted by the authorities of the island, is an explosive of huge destructive potential.”
“It … already starts having a destabilizing impact on the Asia-Pacific Region and threatens the interests of peace and development.”
Recently, Russia condemned Kosovar independence, and some analysts feared a domino effect in Asia. At the time, China said they were “deeply concerned.” Since then, riots in Tibet and nearby provinces have further fueled Beijing’s fears of breakaway states.
