China warns U.S. on military aid to Taiwan region

China strongly condemns the recent announcement of the United States government's approval of military aid worth approximately $567 million to the Taiwan region, a defense spokesman said on Wednesday.

In a release, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, said the U.S., which ignored China's firm opposition, has seriously violated the one-China principle and the three Sino-U.S. joint communiqués.

The U.S. move has severely undermined China's sovereignty and security interests, and gravely disrupted peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, he said.

"We express strong condemnation and have lodged solemn representations with the U.S. side," said the spokesman.

In late September, the U.S. government approved $567 million in new defense aid for the Taiwan region, covering funding for training, anti-armor systems and drones.

Wu stressed that in recent years, the U.S. has repeatedly breached its commitments, providing military aid and arms sales to Taiwan, sending the wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" forces.

The U.S. actions are fueling tensions in the region, pushing Taiwan towards a dangerous precipice of conflict, he said.

"It must be emphasized that arming Taiwan only emboldens 'Taiwan independence', which means war," Wu said, underscoring that using Taiwan to contain China is a strategy doomed to backfire.

"We urge the U.S. to stop playing a double game on China, to cease its duplicity on the Taiwan question, and to stop arming Taiwan to avoid further damaging bilateral and military-to-military relations," he added.

The People's Liberation Army will continue to strengthen its combat readiness and enhance its ability to win wars, resolutely counter and strike against "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference, and firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the official warned.