Beijing, June 9 (UNI/Sputnik) China has strongly opposed the approval of sales of warship parts to Taiwan by the United States.
China considers any arms supplies to the island as detrimental to Beijing’s security interests and sovereignty, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency said Washington had approved a possible sale of $120 million worth of warship parts and systems to Taiwan to help the island maintain its vessels. According to the US state department, the measure will not change the current military balance in the region.
“Sales of US arms to Taiwan grossly violate the One China principle and provisions of the three joint US-China communiques, seriously damage China’s sovereignty and security interests, relations between Beijing and Washington, as well as peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. China strongly condemns and opposes it,” the diplomat said at a press briefing.
Zhao stressed that Washington must give up its plan to sell arms to Taiwan, halt weapons supplies to the island, and cut off any contacts between the US and Taiwanese military.
“China will continue to take drastic measures to protect its sovereignty and security interests,” the spokesman added.
Beijing considers Taiwan a part of its sovereign territory and opposes any official contacts between the island and other countries. The US has supported pro-independence forces in Taiwan and sold the island weapons. Beijing has repeatedly said that the One China principle is a political foundation of China-US relations and that violations by Washington of its own obligations have been jeopardizing cooperation between the two countries, threatening peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. According to Beijing, if Washington continues to play the so-called Taiwan card and keeps going down the “wrong path,” it will inevitably result in the emergence of a “dangerous situation.”
