Ministry blasts planned $600m sale of four drones to Taiwan by US

The Chinese military strongly condemned the United States for its plan to sell four MQ-9 drones worth $600 million to Taiwan, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense, said on Wednesday.

The US State Department notified Congress on Tuesday of its plan to sell four MQ-9B Reaper drones and related hardware to Taiwan. The deal, which awaits congressional approval, is the latest arms package to be offered to the island, following a $2.37 billion sale of Harpoon missile systems and a $1.8 billion package including rocket launchers, sensors and artillery last month.

Wu said the move has seriously violated China's sovereignty, safety and territorial integrity. It has also challenged China's core interests and disrupted China-US military relations and bilateral ties as well as peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, he added.

"Any attempt to use Taiwan to pressure China and use military force to resist reunification is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot and is doomed to fail," Wu said.

"We urge the US to recognize the severity of arms deals with Taiwan and immediately stop any planned deals and military communication," he said, adding the US should carefully handle the Taiwan question to avoid "incalculable and severe consequences".

"Those who play with fire will get burned," Wu said. "The People's Liberation Army will never allow anyone or any forces to separate the nation's sacred territory. If anyone insists on having their own way, we will absolutely strike back head on."

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the US arms sale has violated the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, especially the August 17 Communique.

"It is crude meddling in China's domestic affairs and has severely undermined China's sovereignty and security interests," Wang said.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said China firmly opposes US arms sales to the island, adding the deal has sent a wrong signal to Taiwan separatist forces.

The island's ruling Democratic Progressive Party is seeking secession by force, and its actions will push the Taiwan people toward disaster, she said.

Zhang Yi and Zhou Jin contributed to this story.