Photo taken on Jan 12, 2019 shows the White House and a stop sign in Washington D.C., the United States. Photo:Xinhua

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on Sunday slammed the US after the latter announced a new round of military assistance worth $571.3 million and approval of $295 million worth of arms sales to Taiwan on Friday. China's Ministry of National Defense also slammed US arms sales and aid to Taiwan region on Saturday in response to Pentagon report on China's military and security developments.

A spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said on Sunday that China firmly opposes the US providing weapons to Taiwan in any form. This position is consistent and clear. US moves seriously violate the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, especially the August 17 Communique, and contradict the serious commitment made by its leaders not to support "Taiwan independence," sending a seriously erroneous signal to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. 

The "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference are the greatest threats to peace in the Taiwan Straits. We demand that the US immediately stop arming Taiwan and handle the Taiwan issue with utmost prudence. We warn the Democratic Progressive Party authorities that relying on the US to seek independence and using military means to pursue independence is a path to self-destruction. We will take resolute and strong measures to firmly defend national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, said Zhu.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Sunday that China strongly deplores and firmly opposes it and lodged serious protests at once with the US.

The spokesperson said the US move violates the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, especially the August 17 Communiqué of 1982, and China's sovereignty and security interests. The decision is a severe breach of the US leaders' commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence," and sends a gravely wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. 

The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests, and the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-US relations. To aid "Taiwan independence" by arming Taiwan is just like playing with fire and will get the US burned, and to use the Taiwan question to contain China is doomed to fail. China urges the US to immediately stop arming Taiwan and stop the dangerous moves that undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits. We will take all measures necessary to firmly defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, the spokesperson said.

US President Joe Biden approved $571.3 million in defense assistance for the island of Taiwan, the White House confirmed on Friday. Separately, the US Defense Department said Friday that $295 million in military sales had been approved. 

The Taiwan question is China's domestic affairs, and it is the core of China's core interests. It is the first red line in China-US relations that cannot be crossed. The Chinese people are determined to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson from China's Ministry of National Defense said on Saturday in response to Pentagon report on China's military and security developments.   
 
The US is intensifying military ties with Taiwan, accelerating the arming of island of Taiwan through arms sales and military aid, which seriously violates the one-China principle. This will only fuel the arrogance of "Taiwan secessionism" and escalate tensions in the Taiwan Straits, potentially leading to conflict and war, Zhang said.
 
China urges the US to adhere to the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques, to recognize the extreme danger of "Taiwan independence" separatism, to understand the serious consequences of playing with fire, to stop official exchanges and military contacts with island of Taiwan, and to cease condoning and supporting "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. The US should not continue down the wrong path, Zhang noted.

Global Times