US's Arms Sales to Taiwan Undermine China-US Relations, Threaten Peace - Chinese FM
06:03 GMT 01.12.2024 (Updated: 08:07 GMT 01.12.2024)
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BEIJING (Sputnik) - The sale of weapons by the United States to Taiwan undermines the China-US relations and jeopardizes peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
Washington's arms sales to Taiwan seriously violate the One-China principle and the provisions of the three joint China-US communiques, the statement said.
"The move violates international law and sends false signals to Taiwanese separatists, undermines China-US relations, and endangers peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," the statement read.
On Friday, Pentagon said that it had approved a potential deal to sell spare parts for F-16 jets and radars worth $385 million to Taiwan.
China strongly condemns the US organization of the "transit" of Taiwan's head of administration Lai Ching-te through their territory, and has made a stern representation to Washington, the ministry also noted.
"China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the US and the Taiwan region, firmly opposes any trip by leader of the Taiwan authorities to the US in any name or under whatever pretext, and firmly opposes any form of US connivance or support for 'Taiwan independence' separatists and their separatist activities. China strongly condemns the US’s arranging for Lai Ching-te’s 'stopover' and has lodged serious protests with the US," the ministry said.
15 November 2024, 09:43 GMT
The Taiwan issue is at the core of China's fundamental interests and is also "the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-US relations," it said.
The foreign ministry also called on the US to stop official contacts with Taiwan and send false signals to Taiwanese separatists.
"China will closely follow the developments and take resolute and strong measures to defend our nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity," the ministry emphasized.
Earlier, Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) reported that the island's head of administration Lai Ching-te would visit the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau from November 30. During his visits, Lai Qingde will, in particular, make transit stops in the American Hawaii and the island of Guam. On Sunday, the agency reported that Lai Ching-te arrived in Hawaii for a two-day transit stop.
The situation around Taiwan worsened after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island in early August 2022. China, which considers the island part of its territory, condemned Pelosi's visit as US support for Taiwanese separatism and held large-scale military exercises.
