China opposes proposed US arms sale to Taiwan

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA(AA) – Beijing​​​​​​​ on Thursday opposed a $75 million “potential” US arms sale to Taiwan, terming it a move that would undermine China's sovereignty and security interests.

"The US arms sales to China’s Taiwan region seriously violate the one-China principle and the of the three China-US joint communiqués, stipulations especially the August 17 Communique of 1982," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said during a routine news briefing in Beijing.

Such sales "undermine China’s sovereignty and security interests, and harm China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," she added.

The US State Department has reportedly approved the potential sale of advanced tactical data link system upgrade planning to Taiwan.

“China always firmly opposes them. We urge the US to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiques, stop selling arms to Taiwan and having military contact with Taiwan, and stop creating factors that could cause tensions in the Taiwan Strait," she noted.

The spokeswoman further said China will take “strong and resolute” measures to firmly defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

About a question on visiting US lawmakers' comments that Washington will continue to support Taiwan, no matter who becomes the next US president, she said Beijing rejects US "interference in Taiwan affairs in whatever form or under whatever pretext."

"Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. China opposes any form of official interaction between the US and Taiwan authorities and rejects US interference in Taiwan affairs in whatever form or under whatever pretext," she added.

She said her country urges the US to be mindful of the "extreme complexity and sensitivity” of the Taiwan question, stop official contact with Taiwan, and stop sending any wrong signal to the "separatist forces" for “Taiwan's independence."