China Welcomes Russia's Statements Opposing Taiwan Independence

China highly appreciates comments made by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in favor of Taiwan remaining part of China, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Friday.

BEIJING (Sputnik) — On Thursday, Zakharova told reporters that the Russian position on the Taiwan question was based on the consideration that there is only one China and the government in Beijing is the only legitimate Chinese government. She added that Russia opposes Taipei being independent from Beijing in any form.

"Yesterday, the Russian Foreign Ministry also said that there was only one China and that Russia opposed any Taiwanese independence. We highly appreciate such a position," Hua Chunying told reporters.

She added that Beijing's position on Taiwan had not changed either.

In 1949, the Chinese Nationalist government was defeated by the Communists and had to flee from continental China to Taiwan, where it formed a separate government and declared itself to be the Republic of China.

Since then, relations between China and Taiwan have been strained, as China refuses to recognize Taiwan as a separate and independent political and diplomatic entity.