Putin gives China 'diplomatic gift' that angers Washington

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave China a diplomatic gift on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of friendship between the two countries. The gift angered the US authorities, NetEase reports citing sources.

The Russian leader conveyed words of support for China's territorial integrity through Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Minister Lavrov emphasised that Russia fully supported China's efforts in preserving the unity of the country.

Sergei Lavrov's statements caused negative reactions in Washington as the US supports Taiwan's independence. The White House believes that such statements from Russian officials strengthen China's stance in its efforts to increase influence in the region.

The US is concerned about the growing cooperation between Russia and China, Martin Kimani, former Permanent Representative of Kenya to the UN and head of the Center for International Cooperation at New York University believes. Stronger cooperation between Russia and China challenges the weakening dominance of Washington and its allies.

According to Russian President Putin, the relations between Russia and China have stood the test of time and are now at the highest level. Putin also expressed confidence that the positive trend will continue.

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China officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the second-most populous country after India, representing 17.4% of the world population. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and borders fourteen countries by land. With an area of nearly 9.6 million square kilometers (3,700,000 sq mi), it is the third-largest country by total land area. The country is divided into 33 province-level divisions: 22 provinces, five autonomous regions, four municipalities, and two semi-autonomous special administrative regions. Beijing is the country's capital, while Shanghai is its most populous city by urban area and largest financial center.

Taiwan officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main island of Taiwan, also known as Formosa, lies between the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast, and the Philippines to the south. It has an area of 35,808 square kilometres (13,826 square miles), with mountain ranges dominating the eastern two-thirds and plains in the western third, where its highly urbanized population is concentrated. The combined territories under ROC control consist of 168 islands in total covering 36,193 square kilometres (13,974 square miles). The largest metropolitan area is formed by Taipei (the capital), New Taipei City, and Keelung. With around 23.9 million inhabitants, Taiwan is among the most densely populated countries.