China reiterates opposition to US weapon sales to Taiwan

China consistently opposes official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan, and is against US weapon sales to the island, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

"We urge the United States to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, sever official exchanges with Taiwan, and stop selling weapons to Taiwan," Hong Lei said at a daily press conference, calling on the United States to refrain from harming China-US relations and the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

The remarks were made after U.S senator James Inhofe reportedly told Taiwan's leader that the United States will sell advanced weapons and helicopters to Taiwan.