Russia affirms opposition to Taiwan’s independence as 7.0-magnitude earthquake strikes the island nation

RUSSIA has once again expressed its firm opposition to Taiwan’s independence, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declaring the island an inseparable part of China.

Speaking to the Russian state news agency TASS, Lavrov also cautioned Japan to “think carefully” about what he described as a path toward militarisation.

These geopolitical tensions coincided with a significant natural event in Taiwan.

Reuters cited that on Saturday, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck approximately 32 kilometres off the northeastern coastal city of Yilan, the island’s weather administration reported.

The quake, occurring at a depth of 73 kilometres, was felt across Taiwan, including the capital, Taipei. Authorities assigned it an intensity-four rating, indicating potential minor damage.

In Taipei, the city government confirmed that there was no major structural damage, though some buildings experienced minor cracks and isolated incidents of gas and water leakage.

Taiwan Power Company reported that over 3,000 homes in Yilan temporarily lost electricity. Major semiconductor manufacturer TSMC indicated that a limited number of facilities in the northern Hsinchu Science Park met evacuation thresholds, but staff have since returned to work.

The island’s weather administration warned residents to remain alert for aftershocks potentially ranging between magnitudes 5.5 and 6.0 over the following day. Officials noted that the relatively deep and offshore nature of the earthquake should limit widespread damage.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te addressed the public via social media, assuring that authorities were managing the situation and reiterating the importance of remaining vigilant for aftershocks.

Taiwan lies near the intersection of two tectonic plates, making it particularly susceptible to seismic activity. Past quakes have been devastating, including a 7.3-magnitude earthquake in 1999 that killed over 2,000 people and a southern Taiwan quake in 2016 that claimed more than 100 lives.

This week’s seismic event serves as a reminder of Taiwan’s vulnerability to natural disasters even as the island navigates complex geopolitical tensions in its region. - December 28, 2025