China has firmly opposed and lodged serious representations with the United States over the latest U.S. arms sales and military assistance to Taiwan region, according to statements released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Sunday.
The response comes after the White House announced on Saturday a military assistance package worth $571.3 million to Taiwan region, along with the U.S. Department of Defense’s approval of $295 million in arms sales to the island.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that the U.S. approval of military assistance and arms sales to Taiwan region seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, particularly the August 17 Communiqué of 1982. The action undermines China’s sovereignty and security interests, the spokesperson added.
“This decision is a severe breach of the U.S. leaders’ commitment to not support ‘Taiwan independence’ and sends a gravely wrong signal to ‘Taiwan secessionist’ forces,” the spokesperson said.
“To aid ‘Taiwan independence’ by arming Taiwan is like playing with fire and will get the U.S. burned,” the spokesperson warned, emphasizing that the Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests and represents the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations.
The spokesperson urged the United States to immediately halt its arms sales to Taiwan and stop taking dangerous actions that undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. “We will take all necessary measures to firmly defend national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity,” the spokesperson declared.
On the same day, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Zhu Fenglian, also responded to the issue. Zhu stated that “Taiwan secessionist” activities and external interference are the biggest threats to peace across the Taiwan Strait.
“We urge the U.S. side to immediately stop arming Taiwan and handle the Taiwan question with extra prudence,” Zhu said, cautioning the Democratic Progressive Party authorities that “using force to seek independence” is a dead end.
(With input from Xinhua)
Reference(s):
China opposes new U.S. arms sales, military assistance to Taiwan
cgtn.com
