The Daily Populous Sunday December 28th, 2025 evening edition
Authored by straitstimes.com and submitted by charliehu1226

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also said that Japan’s leadership is seeking to accelerate militarisation.

- Russia will support China if a Taiwan contingency flares up, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with the country’s Tass news agency, as Beijing’s tensions with Japan continue to escalate over the issue.

Mr Lavrov also said in the interview, released on Dec 28, that Japan’s leadership is seeking to accelerate militarisation, citing defence spending increases under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration, in remarks seen as a warning to Tokyo.

His comments come after Ms Takaichi said in a parliamentary session in November that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, potentially involving its defence forces in support of the US.

“As for the possible escalation in the Taiwan Strait, the procedure for acting in such situations is set forth” in a treaty with China, Mr Lavrov said. “One of the basic principles” is “mutual support in defending national unity and territorial integrity.”

China and Russia have conducted joint bomber flights repeatedly over the years, prompting Japan’s Defence Ministry to describe the moves as “clearly intended for demonstration of force against Japan”.

Communist-ruled China and Taiwan have been governed separately since 1949 following a civil war. Beijing views the democratic island as a renegade province to be unified with the mainland by force if necessary.

Mr Lavrov was also quoted by Tass as saying Russia urges Japan to “weigh up” the possible consequences before resorting to any sudden decisions as it pursues a course toward militarisation.

“Our Japanese neighbours should have weighted everything properly before taking any hasty decisions,” he said. KYODO NEWS

Nick_Strong on December 28th, 2025 at 11:02 UTC »

Russia has been China's junior partner since 2014 and is heavily reliant on China to continue waging its war against Ukraine. I wouldn't be surprised if the original plan in 2022 had involved simultaneous invasions of Ukraine and Taiwan, but China wisely backed out and decided to see how its junior partner would fare first. China now has Russia exactly where it wants it, and Russia is too stupid to see it.

Spinoza42 on December 28th, 2025 at 10:46 UTC »

That's like the old joke of the mouse and the elephant walking on a bridge and the mouse saying "we sure make a lot of noise walking on this bridge, right?"

stwrhegheg on December 28th, 2025 at 10:40 UTC »

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