China state media editor says Beijing must back Russia over Ukraine so it gets support when it fights for Taiwan

A top Chinese state media editor said that Beijing needs to back Russia over Ukraine in order to assert its dominance over Taiwan.

China has not condemned President Putin for ordering troops into eastern Ukraine, an act that Western powers consider to be a start to a full invasion of Ukraine.

The EU and the US agreed to impose sanctions on Russian companies and individuals after landmark sanctions were announced by the US and UK.

The foreign ministry of China does not agree with the use of the measures.

Beijing will need Moscow's support when it wants to force its hand on Russia, as it is in China's interests to support Russia from afar, according to a senior editor at the state-run Xinhua news agency.

Taiwan, which has been self-ruled for decades, has been claimed by China as part of its territory. If Taiwan continued to assert its independence, it has increased its threats to engage in military conflict.

China has to back Russia up with emotional and moral support, but not tread on the toes of the US and EU.

In the future, China will need Russia's understanding and support when wrestling with America to solve the Taiwan issue.

He said that China should understand Russia's legitimate security concerns.

Russia has supported China over the Taiwan issue, with foreign minister Sergey Lavrov saying last October that Russia considers Taiwan to be part of the People's Republic of China.

On Tuesday, the state-owned Horizon News outlet appeared to accidentally post editorial instructions on how to cover the Russia-Ukraine issue on its Weibo page.

Content that was not positive toward Russia or the West was banned. The Washington Post reported that the post was deleted.

'Hit hard. Hit now'

China and Russia have grown closer in recent years, while both clashing with the US, and their militaries have held joint drills on sea and land.

Putin ordered Russian troops and tanks to enter eastern Ukraine after he acknowledged that Luhansk and Donetsk were independent.

President Zelensky called up all military reservists between the ages of 18 and 60 on Wednesday, but stopped short of full deployment.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with the foreign minister of Ukraine to discuss ways to protect the country.

Dmytro Kuleba called for more economic sanctions against Russia on Wednesday.

Hit hard. He said to hit now.