Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying. Photo: VCG

The US arms sales to the island of Taiwan has reached nearly $70 billion, violating the three communiqués that lay the basis for China-US relations, spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday, which marks the 39th anniversary of the August 17 Communiqué published jointly by Beijing and Washington. 

The spokesperson also reiterated that no matter how many arms the US sell to Taiwan, the trend of reunification cannot be deterred. 

Thirty-nine years ago, China and US jointly published the August 17 Communiqué, during which the US promised to gradually decrease arms sales to the island of Taiwan to a point where it completely ceased, said Hua Chunying, spokesperson of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

The truth is that the US has violated its promise by carrying on "official" interaction with Taiwan, selling arms to the island and helping to exploit the international space for it, said Hua. She noted that US' arms sales to Taiwan have reached nearly $70 billion for the past 39 years, and the then Trump administration alone sold arms worth 18.3 billion to Taiwan for 11 times.

Not long ago, the Biden administration also approved arms sales to the island in a deal that is worth up to $750 million, said Hua.

China has fought back sturdily against US' wrongdoings and will safeguard its own sovereignty and self-interests, said Hua, noting that China reserves all necessary countermeasures against anyone who tries to interfere with cross-Straits relations with the few Taiwan secessionists.

No one should underestimate China's firm determination, persistent will and strong power of safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity; and no matter how many arms the US sell to Taiwan, the trend of reunification cannot be deterred, according to Hua. 

She urged the US to abide by those three communiqués, as well as stop interacting with Taiwan to "avoid further damaging China-US relations, and ensure stability across the Taiwan Straits."

Global Times