US arms sale to Taiwan represents gross interference in China's affairs: Defense Ministry
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After the US administration agreed to sell Taiwan $100 million worth of military equipment and services, the Chinese Ministry of Defense calls on Washington to cancel the deal.
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US arms sale to Taiwan represents gross interference in China's affairs: Defense Ministry.
The US selling arms to Taiwan is an obvious intervention in Chinese internal affairs, which Beijing firmly rejects, the Chinese Defense Ministry Spokesperson Wu Qian said, calling on Washington to cut ties with Taiwan's military forces.
The US government approved a $100 million deal with Taiwan on Tuesday for the maintenance of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems built in the United States.
"US arms sales to Taiwan severely infringe on the One China principle and three joint US-China communique... This represents a flagrant interference in China's internal affairs and undermines China's sovereignty and security interests," Wu said in a statement.
He went on to say that US military sales to Taiwan "erode relations between China and the US, as well as between the two countries' armed forces, threatening peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and China expresses its strong dissatisfaction and vehement opposition."
Beijing is also pressing Washington to annul the arms-sale agreement with Taipei and break all connections with the Taiwanese military.
"There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. China demands that the US immediately cancel the aforementioned plan to sell arms to Taiwan," Wu stressed, adding that the Chinese army will take every effort to uphold the nation's sovereignty.
"The People's Liberation Army of China will take all necessary measures to vigorously defend state sovereignty and territorial integrity and unwaveringly thwart any external interference," Wu said.
Read more: Explaining Taiwan: The Balance of Relations between the US and China
Earlier, the US administration approved a $100 million deal for Taiwan to boost Patriot air defense missile systems.
This was indicated by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, declaring that the United States has military capabilities to "protect" Taiwan from China.
In contrast, China's Ambassador to the United States previously said that China and Taiwan could end up in a military conflict if Washington encouraged Taiwan's "independence".
