China on Wednesday urged the United States to stop arming the Taiwan region and refrain from undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian was speaking at a regular press briefing when asked to comment on reports that the Trump administration had released $5.3 billion in previously frozen foreign aid, including $870 million earmarked for security programmes in Taiwan.
Lin said China is seriously concerned about such reports, noting that China has always strongly opposed the United States’ provision of military aid to “the Taiwan region of China,” as such behaviour seriously violates the “one China” principle and the three joint communiqués between China and the United States, significantly violates China’s sovereignty and security interests, and sends an extremely wrong signal to the separatist forces of “Taiwan independence.”
“China will closely monitor the development of the situation and firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity,” Lin added.
On December 21, the White House announced $571.3 million in military aid to the island, while the Pentagon announced that the State Department had approved arms sales to Taiwan totalling $295 million.
Last September, China imposed sanctions on nine companies linked to the US military-industrial complex over arms sales to Taiwan. The restrictions affected Sierra Nevada Corporation, Stick Rudder Enterprises LLC, Cubic Corporation, S3 AeroDefense, TCOM, TextOre, Planate Management Group, ACT1 Federal and Exovera.
In December, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced new measures because of US arms shipments to Taiwan. China imposed sanctions against 13 US military-industrial companies and six executives.
