China has strongly condemned the United States’ decision to sell arms to the Taiwan region, urging an immediate reversal of the move. Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Wu Qian made the remarks on Wednesday, emphasizing the severe implications for China-U.S. relations and regional stability.
“The U.S. arms sale to the Taiwan region seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, particularly the August 17 communique,” Wu stated. “It infringes upon China’s sovereignty and security interests, undermines China-U.S. relations, and threatens peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
The U.S. recently announced a plan to provide military assistance worth approximately \$567 million to the Taiwan region. Wu criticized this decision, asserting that it sends a “serious and erroneous signal” to separatist forces seeking “Taiwan independence.”
He urged the United States to halt its “two-faced” approach towards China. “We call on the U.S. to stop its double-dealing practices on the Taiwan question and cease arming Taiwan,” Wu said. “Such actions only disturb and undermine the relations between our two countries and militaries.”
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Wu warned, “It must be noted that ‘Taiwan independence’ means war, and attempts to use Taiwan to contain China will only lead to self-inflicted harm.”
China maintains that Taiwan is an inalienable part of its territory and opposes any form of official exchanges or military cooperation between the Taiwan region and other countries. The one-China principle is a critical foundation for China-U.S. diplomatic relations, established through the three joint communiques signed in the 1970s and 1980s.
The spokesperson’s remarks underscore the heightened tensions surrounding the Taiwan Strait and the importance of diplomatic adherence to previously established agreements. Observers are closely watching how the U.S. will respond to China’s demands and the potential implications for regional security.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
