In a stern rebuke, China’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday expressed firm opposition to the United States’ latest decision to provide military assistance and approve arms sales to the Taiwan region. The ministry has lodged serious representations with Washington, denouncing the move as a violation of the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, particularly the August 17 Communique of 1982.
The White House announced on Saturday a military assistance package worth $571.3 million to the Taiwan region, alongside the U.S. Department of Defense’s approval of $295 million in arms sales to the island. Beijing perceives these actions as a severe breach of U.S. commitments and an infringement on China’s sovereignty and security interests.
“The United States’ approval of military assistance and arms sales to China’s Taiwan region seriously violates the one-China principle,” a spokesperson for the ministry stated. “It sends a gravely wrong signal to ‘Taiwan secessionist’ forces.”
The spokesperson warned that aiding “Taiwan independence” by arming the island is akin to “playing with fire” and will ultimately backfire on the U.S. The Taiwan question, they emphasized, lies at the core of China’s core interests and represents the “first red line” that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations.
“China urges the U.S. to immediately stop arming Taiwan and cease the dangerous moves that undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” the spokesperson added. “We will take all necessary measures to firmly defend national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.”
Echoing the Foreign Ministry’s sentiments, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, condemned the actions of “Taiwan secessionist” activities and external interference, labeling them the biggest threats to peace across the Taiwan Strait. She urged the U.S. to handle the Taiwan question with extra prudence and cautioned the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan that “using force to seek independence” is a dead end.
“We urge the U.S. side to immediately stop arming Taiwan,” Zhu said. “Attempting to contain China by using the Taiwan question is doomed to fail.”
Reference(s):
China opposes new U.S. arms sales, military assistance to Taiwan
cgtn.com
