Moscow. October 27th. INTERFAX - Russian President Vladimir Putin called the visits of high-ranking US representatives to Taiwan, contributing to the deterioration of relations between Washington and Beijing, a provocation and irrational actions.
"Taiwan is without any doubt an integral part of the People's Republic of China, we have always adhered to this position, and it does not change with us. And all the provocative gestures associated with the visit to Taiwan by top officials of the United States are perceived in Russia as a provocation. Why are they doing this? To be honest, I don't know," Putin said at the plenary session of the Valdai international discussion forum on Thursday.
He considers it illogical that the United States is spoiling relations with China amid the crisis in relations between Washington and Moscow.
"This tragedy is happening in Ukraine. The whole West has come down on us, trying to destroy our economy, weapons, billions of ammunition are being supplied to Ukraine, they are fighting with Russia. But why should we spoil relations with China at the same time? Well, are they normal people or not?" he said.
In his opinion, such actions completely contradict common sense and logic.
"Why did this grandmother have to drag herself to Taiwan to provoke China to some kind of retaliatory actions, at a time when they (the United States, - "IF") cannot settle relations with Russia in any way because of what is happening in Ukraine. Well, it's just nonsense," he said.
