US urged to acknowledge serious harm of Taiwan arms sales

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China urged the United States to recognize the highly sensitive nature and serious harm of arms sales to Taiwan as Tuesday marks the 39th anniversary of the August 17th communique between China and the US.

In the communique, which was signed in 1982, the US states that it does not seek to carry out a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan, that its arms sales to Taiwan will not exceed the level of those supplied in recent years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the US, and that it intends gradually to reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan, leading, over a period of time, to a final resolution.

However, the spokeswoman noted that for the past 39 years, the total amount of arms sold by successive US administrations to Taiwan hit nearly $70 billion, including the first arms sales deal approved by the Biden administration not long ago, which was worth $750 million.

"No matter how many weapons the US provides to Taiwan, it cannot change the overriding trend of cross-Straits relations, still less to stop the process of China's reunification," Hua said, adding that no one should underestimate China's determination and capacity to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"There is but one China in the world. The Taiwan region is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. The People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China," she said.

Hua said resolving the Taiwan question and realizing the complete reunification of the motherland is the aspiration of all the Chinese people.

"We will make every effort with utmost sincerity to strive for the prospect of a peaceful unification. But we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures in response to interference by external forces and a very small number of 'Taiwan independence' forces," she said.