China strongly opposes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, lodges solemn protests: spokesperson

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Sunday said it’s strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and it has lodged solemn representations with the U.S. side.

The remarks came after the United States said on Friday that a potential sale of spare parts for F-16 jets and radars to Taiwan for an estimated $385 million was approved.

Calling the decision inconsistent with U.S. leaders’ commitment of not supporting “Taiwan independence,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the sales are a severe breach of the international law, send a gravely wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and are detrimental to China-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

“We call on the U.S. to immediately stop arming Taiwan and stop abetting and supporting ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces in seeking ‘Taiwan independence’ by building up its military,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its website. “China will take strong and resolute countermeasures to firmly defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.”