The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed strong opposition on Sunday to the United States' recent decision to provide military assistance and arms sales to the Taiwan region. This statement followed the White House's announcement on Saturday of $571.3 million in military aid to Taiwan, along with the U.S. Department of Defense's approval of $295 million in arms sales to the island.
A spokesperson for the ministry criticized the U.S. actions, stating that they violate the one-China principle and breach the three China-U.S. joint communiques, particularly the August 17 Communique of 1982. The spokesperson emphasized that these moves threaten China's sovereignty and security interests.
\"The decision is a severe breach of the U.S. leaders' commitment to not support 'Taiwan independence,'\" the spokesperson added, highlighting the negative signal it sends to those favoring Taiwan's secession.
Further, the spokesperson warned, \"To aid 'Taiwan independence' by arming Taiwan is just like playing with fire and will get the U.S. burned, and to use the Taiwan question to contain China is doomed to fail.\" They stressed that the Taiwan question is a core interest of China and a non-negotiable red line in China-U.S. relations.
China has called on the U.S. to immediately cease arming Taiwan and halt actions that undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits. The ministry assured that it will take all necessary measures to defend national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.
Responding to the issue, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, labeled Taiwan secessionist activities and external interference as the greatest threats to peace across the Taiwan Straits. She urged the U.S. to stop arming Taiwan and handle the Taiwan question with greater prudence, warning that \"using force to seek independence\" is a dead end for Taiwan.
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China opposes new U.S. arms sales, military assistance to Taiwan
cgtn.com
