Chinese mainland blasts US $1.99 billion arms sale to Taiwan, warns of heightened risk

The Chinese mainland on Sunday sharply criticized the recent US arms sale to Taiwan, stating that "Taiwan independence" and peace in the Taiwan Strait cannot coexist, according to Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office.

Her remarks came after the US Defense Department announced that the State Department had approved a $1.99 billion arms package for Taiwan, including National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and radar equipment.

"We firmly oppose the US sale of weapons to the Taiwan region of China, a position that is consistent and clear," Zhu said, condemning the arms deal as a breach of US commitments. She said that the move disregards past assurances from US leaders against supporting Taiwan independence, stoking "reckless actions" by separatist groups in Taiwan and disrupting stability in the region.

Zhu urged the US to adhere to the one-China policy and the three China-US Joint Communiques, particularly the August 17 Communique of 1982, which includes agreements on arms sales. She called on Washington to halt arms sales to Taiwan and to refrain from sending "wrong signals" to pro-independence factions.

Zhu said Taiwan's leadership, under Lai Ching-te, has been attempting to 'seek independence by relying on the United States' and 'seek independence by military means, escalating cross-Strait tensions.

She warned that "buying weapons doesn't mean security; it will only make Taiwan a more dangerous place at risk of conflict."

China's goal of reunification remains steadfast, Zhu said, asserting that separatist efforts will not deter Beijing's resolve to address the Taiwan question.