Russia opposes Taiwan independence in nod to China

MOSCOW, July 23 (Reuters) Russia today said it opposed any sort of independence for Taiwan, in a nod to its powerful neighbour China, which claims the self-ruled island as its own territory.

Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Yakovenko met Chinese Ambassador Liu Guchang in Moscow and discussed Taiwan's application to join the United Nations under its own name, the foreign ministry said in a statement posted on www.mid.ru.

''Russia opposes independence for Taiwan in any format and recognises only the existence of one China and the government of the People's Republic of China as the only legal government representing all of China,'' the ministry said in a statement.

China has slammed Taiwan for its application to join the United Nations. Beijing took over China's seat at the United Nations from Taipei in 1971.

China has asserted sovereignty over Taiwan since they split at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949 and has vowed to bring it back under mainland rule, by force if necessary.

Under the ''One China'' policy, Beijing insists that countries cannot have official relations with both China and Taiwan.

China's UN allies far outnumber those of Taiwan, which is now recognized by just 24 countries around the world.

Russia, resurgent after an eight-year economic boom, and China, emerging as a new global power, are trying to boost their influence in the post-Cold War world.

The two countries, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, are also trying to boost their trade.

REUTERS SY BD2307