China, a close ally of Russia, said on Monday that it was opposed to illegal unilateral sanctions and will continue to carry out normal trade cooperation with Moscow, as the US, EU and their allies stepped up punitive measures against Russia, including the interbank messaging system SWIFT. Asked about what some have described as the "financial nuclear option" at a regular press briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China opposes the use of sanctions to solve problems and is even more opposed to unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law. "China and Russia will continue to carry out normal trade cooperation in the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit," Wang said.
This comes amid a delegation of former US defence officials is visiting Taiwan this week in a sign of stepped-up communication between the sides amid the looming threat from China. Separately, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was due to arrive in Taiwan on Wednesday. Pompeo, who also formerly led the Central Intelligence Agency, will also meet with Tsai and address a forum prior to his departure Saturday, according to the foreign ministry. “Former secretary of state Pompeo's visit displays fully US bipartisan backing for its rock solid' support" for Taiwan, the ministry said.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has drawn fresh attention to China's threat to use force to annex self-governing democratic Taiwan, which it claims as its own territory. Circumstances are very different, however: Taiwan lies 160 kilometers (100 miles) across the turbulent Taiwan Strait from mainland China and enjoys strong support from the US, which is legally bound to ensure the island can defend itself and treat all threats to it as matters of “grave concern."
-Inputs from PTI
