Russia firmly opposes Taiwan's referendum over UN membership

MOSCOW -- Russia firmly opposes Taiwan's proposed referendum on U.N. membership, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said on Monday in a statement published on the ministry's official website.

Russia regards such a move a "political game" that will spark "remarkable consequence," the statement said.

Russia will never be tolerant to any activity that was aimed at turning Taiwan into a sovereign country.

There's only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. The Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the interest of all the Chinese people, it said.

Russia, as a strategic partner of China, will unswervingly oppose Taiwan's accession to any international organization which is composed of sovereignty nations, said the statement.

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov has expressed last Friday firm opposition to Taiwan's proposed referendum on U.N. membership, vowing to work along with international community to curb the "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities.

Many other countries, such as the United States, have also expressed their opposition and concern over the proposed referendum.

The United States opposes the referendum and believes it showed the Taiwan authorities' intention to change the status quo, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Thomas J. Christensen has said.