Rutte links potential China move on Taiwan to possible Russian aggression against NATO
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
If China intended to attack Taiwan, Russia would likely try to strike NATO countries at the same time to distract the Alliance from the Asian theater of operations, said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, according to his remarks at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Ljubljana.
"If, for example, China were to move against Taiwan, it's highly likely that China would force the junior partner in that relationship, being Russia, under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, to move against NATO here to keep us busy," Rutte said.
The NATO Secretary General emphasized that there is "a long and broken Russian submarine limping home from patrol" in the Mediterranean.
Conflict between China and Taiwan
The conflict between Taiwan and China stems from the Chinese Civil War, after which, in 1949, the government of the Republic of China retreated to Taiwan, while the Communist Party established power on the mainland.
China regards Taiwan as its inalienable territory and does not recognize its independence, threatening the use of force should official independence be declared.
Taiwan, in turn, effectively functions as an independent state with its own government, military, and international ties, although most countries do not officially recognize its sovereignty.
Tensions are further fueled by China's military exercises near Taiwan and increased activity in the South China and East China Seas.
