5 ms·

Not surprising at all given China's interest in Taiwan.

• simonh 5y ago
  The Chinese position on this and the implications for Taiwan are not as simple as a lot of the press seem to think. China's claim on Taiwan is based on the principle that it is legally still Chinese territory. Crimea is still legally Ukrainian territory, so Russia's annexation is a real problem for China. They can't support it because that would undermine the basis of their claim on Taiwan. Similarly with the invasion of Ukraine, any principle China could use to support Russian's military intervention in Ukraine could also be used to justify US military intervention in Taiwan. On the other hand big countries muscling in on little countries to take their stuff is a hobby China would love to take up if they get the chance. However their domestic promotion of Russian propaganda is more about the fact that they hate the west than it is about them actually supporting Russia at all.
  • sorokod 5y ago
    The context here is the price that Russia will end up paying and by analogy the price China may need to pay for a similar adventure. The legal details are of lesser importance I think.
    • simonh 5y ago
      That's certainly true. China would claim Taiwan regardless of the legal technicalities, but it's still interesting to see them get their claims, arguments and legalistic posturing tied up in knots over it all.
  • KptMarchewa 5y ago
    Also, China very much dislikes the puppet republics spawned to create claims on Ukraine land.
    • simonh 5y ago
      Exactly, it sees them as mini-Taiwans with Russia playing the part of the USA. If it wasn't for the fact China hates the west more than they do Russia they'd be much more vocal about it.