Two Su-35 fighter jets and an H-6K bomber fly in formation on May 11, 2018. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) air force conducted patrol training over China's island of Taiwan.(Photo: Xinhua)

 
China expressed firm opposition to the latest US arms sales to the island of Taiwan and has lodged solemn representations with the US, the Chinese Defense Ministry said on Thursday. 

The comments came after the US announced on Tuesday the approval of an estimated $95-million package including equipment and services to maintain the Patriot missile defense system the US exported to the island.

This marks the third arms sales to the island of Taiwan since US President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.

US' arms sales to the island of Taiwan severely violates the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint Communiqués, particularly the August 17 Communiqué, Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of National Defense, said in a statement on Thursday. 

The move rudely interferes in China's internal affairs, seriously undermines China's sovereignty and security interests, and greatly harms the China-US relations and ties between the two countries' militaries, as well as the peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, he said. 

US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said on Tuesday that the US has approved an estimated $95-million arms sales package including "training, planning, fielding, deployment, operation, maintenance, and sustainment of the Patriot system, associated equipment, and logistics support elements," as well as ground support equipment and spare parts.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory, and the Taiwan question is a concern of China's core interest, which does not allow any external interference, Tan stressed.

China urges the US to abide by the one-China principle and the regulations in the three China-US Joint Communiqués, immediately cancel the abovementioned arms sales plan to the island and stop military ties with Taiwan authorities so as to avoid further damage to China-US relations and ties between the two countries' militaries, Tan said.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army will take powerful measures, resolutely defeat all kinds of foreign force interferences and Taiwan secessionist attempts and firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Tan said.

Global Times