During the strategic security consultations held in China on September 19, Russia and China agreed on further cooperation through their defense ministries, with an emphasis on conducting joint exercises. The consultations were held by the Secretary of the Security Council (SB) of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev and a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the People's Republic of China Yang Jiechi.
In addition, the parties expressed concern about the escalation of tension on the part of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region, including in the Taiwan region.
"The Afghan issues, the military-political situation in the Asia-Pacific region, including the situation on the Korean peninsula and around Taiwan, were considered. The interlocutors expressed concern about the escalation of tension on the part of the United States and its allies in the region. The situation in Ukraine is also affected," the press service of the Security Council of the Russian Federation reported.
The report notes that Patrushev and Yang Jiechi paid special attention at the talks to building up contacts between Russia and China within the framework of the United Nations (UN), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS.
The sides also discussed the development of the agreements reached last week at the meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand.
"The parties agreed on further cooperation between the military departments with an emphasis on conducting joint exercises and patrols, as well as on strengthening contacts between the General Staffs," the statement said.
The day before, US President Joe Biden said that Washington does not encourage Taiwan to gain independence from China. At the same time, he noted that the United States will protect Taiwan in the event of a military conflict between the island and China. Beijing protested in response.
On September 15, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that no country in the world can act as a judge on the issue of Taiwan. The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed a strong protest in connection with the US bill, which involves the allocation of military assistance to Taiwan. The Ministry noted that the adoption by the States of such a bill is interference in China's internal affairs, and also violates international law and the basic norms of international relations.
On the same day, the US Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs approved an initiative to provide military assistance to the Taiwan administration against the background of the situation with China. It involves the allocation of military aid to the island for $ 4.5 billion over four years, as well as credit guarantees for military purchases in the amount of up to $ 2 billion.
At the same time, Putin held a meeting with the Chinese president on the sidelines of the SCO. During the meeting, Xi Jinping noted that he was ready, together with Russia, to organize the transition of the changing world to the trajectory of sustainable development. Putin, in turn, noted that Russia condemns the provocations of the United States and its satellites in the Taiwan Strait.
The situation around Taiwan escalated after the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi arrived at Taipei airport on August 2, despite China's urgent request to refrain from this step. She called her visit "a testament to the US commitment to supporting Taiwanese democracy."
Taiwan is part of China, but is not under the administration of Beijing. The US claims that it does not dispute the ownership of the island by the PRC, while supporting the Taiwanese authorities. Official relations between the Government of the People's Republic of China and its island province were interrupted in 1949, contacts resumed in the late 1980s.
