Russia backs China over 'provocative' Pelosi visit to Taiwan

RussiabackedChinaon Tuesdayoveran expectedvisittoTaiwanby USHouse of Representatives Speaker NancyPelosi, warning Washington that such a provocative trip would put the United States on a collision course with Beijing.However, despite the pressure from China and Xi Jinping's tactics, US House Speaker Pelosi has arrived in Taipei, Taiwan.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping warned U. President Joe Biden against playing with fireoverTaiwanin a call last week but three sources told Reuters on Tuesday thatPelosiwas still set tovisitthe island.

"We cannot say for sure right now whether she will or will not get there, but everything about this tour and the possible visit to Taiwan is purely provocative," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Maria Zakharova,Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman, said the expectedvisitwas a provocative attempt by Washington to pile pressure onChina- with whomRussiahas forged a strong partnership in recent years.

Watch |Reports: Nancy Pelosi to visit Taiwan today, China warns against the move

"The USA is a state provocateur," she said. "Russiaconfirms the principle of "oneChina" and opposes the independence of the island in any form."

Chinaviewsvisits by USofficials toTaiwanas sending an encouraging signal to the pro-independence camp in the island. Washington does not have official diplomatic ties withTaiwanbut is bound by U.S. law to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

In the Chinese civil war, Mao Zedong's Communists defeated the forces of the Kuomintang (KMT), or nationalist party, under Chiang Kai-shek, forcing him to flee toTaiwanin 1949.

Chinahas repeatedly warned againstPelosigoing toTaiwan, which it claims as its own, while the United States said on Monday that it would not be intimidated by Chinese "sabre rattling".

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