Taiwan President Lai Tsinghe said that if China’s claims to Taiwan are about territorial integrity, then the PRC should also return the lands that were ceded to Russia in the 19th century.
Source: Reuters
Details: In an interview with a local TV channel, the leader of Taiwan recalled the Treaty of Aigun in 1858, according to which China handed over a huge tract of land to the Russian Empire in what is now the Far East of Russia, forming most of the modern border along the Amur River.
Direct speech: “If we are talking about territorial integrity, then why not return the lands occupied by Russia under the Aigun Treaty? Russia is now very weakened, isn’t it?”
More details: According to Taiwan’s president, “China’s intention to attack and annex Taiwan is not related to what any one person or political party in Taiwan says or does.”
“The Treaty of Aigun signed during the Qing era – you can ask Russia (to return the land), but you don’t do it. So it is obvious that they don’t want to invade Taiwan for territorial reasons,” he said.
Background: The Treaty of Aigun was signed between the Qing Empire, which controlled most of the territory of modern China, and the Russian Empire in 1858. He established the Russian-Chinese border along the Amur River, thereby handing Russia large lands north of it. In 1860, the Treaty of Peking was signed, according to which the territory of the present Primorye Territory was ceded to Russia.
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