TAIPEI (Reuters – Taiwan has condemned the Chinese government’s disrespectful attitude towards the spirit of this Games, and called it “contemptible”.

At a meeting between their leaders, China and Russia, hours before the Winter Olympics opened officially, they supported each other in standoffs over Ukraine and Taiwan and made a commitment to work more together against the West.

Russia voiced its support for China’s stance that democratically-governed Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and opposition to any form of independence for the island.

According to Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry, China’s continuing false claims that the island belongs to the People’s Republic of China are exactly what the country’s practice of spreading fake news is.

“It increases Taiwanese disgust at and hatred for the Chinese government’s arrogances and bullying. It also clearly shows all countries around the globe the sinister side of the Chinese Communist Regime’s aggressions, expansionism, and damaging of peace.”

According to the ministry, this was done at a moment when everyone is focused on the Winter Olympics, cheering for their competitors.

“This insults the peaceful spirit of the Olympic Rings and will be rejected by Taiwanese people, as well as being treated contemptuously by democratic countries.”

The United States also expressed concern about the meeting and said that Chinese President Xi Jinping shouldn’t have used it to press for lowering tensions in Ukraine.

Taiwan sent four members of its Olympic team to participate in the Olympics. This is at a time when tensions are high between Taipei, Beijing and China, as China frequently sends military aircraft and ships to islands near them.

Although Russia is China’s close friend, Taiwan and Russia maintain de facto small embassies each other’s capitals.

Chiang Ching-kuo was the former president of Taiwan. He spoke Russian and married a Russian woman he had met in Taiwan during his time there in 1930s.