Patrushev alleged that “Western countries are using issues related to Taiwan, the western Xinjiang region and Hong Kong to defame China.”
Russia, which is hosting a senior Chinese diplomat in Moscow for security talks, has called for closer coordination between Russia and China on policy matters to counter alleged efforts by the West to control both countries.
Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia’s Security Council, chaired by President Vladimir Putin, told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday that Moscow “wants further progress and strengthening of the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation that exists between Russia and China.”
“It is especially important to further strengthen Russia-China coordination and dialogue in the international arena amid the Western countries’ collective campaign aimed at containing Russia and China,” Patrushev said.
He said Putin will travel to Beijing next month to attend the summit of China’s “Belt and Road” infrastructure initiative and during this, “important” talks may take place between him and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Patrushev has been a longtime close ally of Putin.
He reaffirmed Russia’s “unconditional” support for Beijing’s policy on issues related to Taiwan, the western Xinjiang region and Hong Kong. Patrushev alleged that “Western countries are using issues related to Taiwan, the western Xinjiang region and Hong Kong to defame China.”
China claims Taiwan as its territory. It continues to conduct major military exercises in the air and water around the island. It has adopted tough measures to eliminate any fear of protests in areas of the country where large numbers of Tibetans and Uighurs, including other ethnic and religious communities, live. Western countries have strongly criticized China’s harsh policies.
At the same time, the Kremlin has consistently expressed support for Beijing, as Russia and China are becoming increasingly closer amid deteriorating relations with the West. China last month helped in the expansion of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), under which six more countries were invited to join this group of five countries.
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