China firmly opposes US arm sales to Taiwan region

The Chinese Ministry of National Defense expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the latest round of United States arms sales to the Taiwan region, a spokesperson said on Monday.

The ministry's spokesperson, Wu Qian, made these remarks in a statement, noting that China has lodged solemn representations with the US side.

The US side approved a new arms sales plan to Taiwan worth approximately $385 million last week.

Wu said: "The US sales of weapons to the Taiwan region of China have seriously violated the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communique, particularly the August 17 Communique".

The arms sales have severely undermined China's sovereignty and security interests, damaged China-US relations and military-to-military ties, and endangered peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, he said.

"The US has a notorious track record of arms sales to Taiwan," Wu said. "While the US claims to maintain peace and promote stability, in reality, it has interfered in internal affairs and disrupted peace, which the international community has long witnessed."

The spokesman also criticized Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party authorities for their "Taiwan independence" stance, saying they are willing to sacrifice the safety and well-being of the people in Taiwan, paying "protection fees" to the US with taxpayers' money.

He emphasized that the DPP's attempts to seek "independence" by relying on the US and using military means would ultimately lead to their own destruction.

"The Taiwan question is the core of China's core interests, the foundation of the political basis of China-US relations, and the first uncrossable red line in China-US ties," Wu stressed.

"We urge the US to earnestly fulfill its commitment of not supporting 'Taiwan independence' and to stop arming Taiwan in any form, taking concrete actions to safeguard the overall situation of China-US relations and military-to-military ties," he said.