Taiwan has hit back at Russian President Vladimir Putin for supporting Beijing's claim of sovereignty over Taiwan.
Putin spoke with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday. According to a readout of their conversation from China's foreign ministry, Putin told Xi that other countries should not interfere with China's "internal affairs" in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Taiwan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou says Taiwan strongly opposes this view. She says Taiwan is not part of China and it has never been governed by the Chinese Communist Party.
Ou adds that Taiwan's human rights, freedom, and democracy are its strongest weapons against China's authoritarian rule. She says that Taiwan cooperates with like-minded nations and is working to prevent the spread of totalitarianism.
Ou says Taiwan will continue to stand up against China's coercion tactics and win support from other countries.