China 'firmly opposed' to Taiwan arms sales

China voiced its strong opposition to US arms sales to Taiwan, and called the US side to revoke its decision, the Chinese embassy in US spokesman said in a statement on Friday.

The statement came after the US State Department announced on Thursday its approval of $1.4 billion worth of arms sales to Taiwan. It was the first arms sales to Taiwan since President Donald Trump took office.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Thursday the Trump administration had notified Congress of its intent to approve seven proposed deals now valued at around $1.42 billion.

CBS News quoted anonymous US government officials as saying that the arms sales this time comprised of seven items, including technical support for early warning radar, anti-radiation missiles, torpedoes, and components for SM-2 missiles.

"China is firmly opposed to the US arms sale to Taiwan. China's stance is clear and firm," the Chinese embassy statement said.

The US nevertheless made the wrong decision to sell arms to Taiwan, disregarding China's strong representations. It seriously violates the principles of the three Joint Communiqués between China and the US, in particular, the August 17, 1982 US-China Communiqué on Arms Sales to Taiwan, grossly interferes on China's domestic affairs, jeopardizes China's sovereign and security interests, and undermines China's efforts to realize national unification, according to the statement.

"The Chinese government and Chinese people have every right to be outraged. The Chinese side has lodged serious representation to the US side, and reserves every right to take further action," the spokesman said in the statement.

Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai also voiced China's strong opposition on Thursday evening on the sidelines of a celebration marking the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China.

The spokesman said the wrong move on the US side runs counter to the consensus reached by the two presidents at Mar-a-Lago and the positive development momentum of the China-U.S. relationship.

"It will harm the mutual trust and cooperation between China and the US. We urge the US to immediately revoke the wrong decision and stop the arms sale to Taiwan," the spokesman said.

The statement said the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus and the core principle that the two sides of the Taiwan Straits belongs to one China, and take pro-independence measures in Taiwan.

"The arms sale by the US sends a very wrong signal to the 'Taiwan independence' forces and harms the cross-Straits peace and stability. The US has repeatedly said that it has profound interest in maintaining peace and stability across the Straits. However, its deeds contradicted its words," the statement said.

The statement stressed that Taiwan is a part of China. The One China principle is a norm widely recognized by the international community. Realizing national unification at an early date is a common wish of the Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots.

"It is the aspiration of the people and the general trend that will not be stopped by arms sale to Taiwan by some countries," the spokesman said.

"We are confident and capable to contain the separatist activities of the 'Taiwan independence' forces and defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from the country," the statement said.