China firmly opposes U.S. military sale to Taiwan and announces sanctions

(ECNS) -- Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday that China strongly condemns and firmly opposes a statement issued by U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, and has lodged strong protests to the U.S. side. As a firm countermeasure, China has announced sanctions against nine U.S. military companies.

U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said on Tuesday that the U.S. State Department approved a military sale to Taiwan of return, repair, and reshipment of spare parts for aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost totaling $ 228 million.

Lin said the U.S. arms sale to China’s Taiwan region seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, especially the August 17 Communiqué of 1982. The sale severely undermines China’s sovereignty and security interests, harms China-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and sends a wrong message to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.

He added that frequent U.S. arms sales to Taiwan embolden Lai Ching-te and the DPP authorities as they cling to the stance of “Taiwan independence” and make deliberate provocations on the one-China principle. This once again shows that the separatist moves for “Taiwan independence” and connivance and support for such moves from U.S.-led external forces are the biggest threat facing cross-Strait peace and stability and cause the greatest disruption to the real status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Let me be clear, the DPP authorities’ attempt to seek independence through military buildup and what the U.S. has done to assist that agenda will only backfire and lead nowhere.

“The Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests, and the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-U.S. relations,” he said, adding that no one should underestimate China’s firm determination and ability to oppose “Taiwan independence” and safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

China urges the U.S. to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, immediately stop the dangerous trend of arming Taiwan, stop conniving at and supporting “Taiwan independence” forces, and stop endangering cross-Strait peace and stability, he said.

“We will take strong and resolute measures to firmly defend our national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity,” he concluded.