China has condemned the United States' $330 million arms sale to Taiwan, calling it a severe violation of the one-China principle and warning that "arming Taiwan will only backfire."
Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang stated Monday that Beijing has made strong representations to Washington following the approval of military sales including non-standard parts for F-16 fighters, C-130 transport planes and Taiwan's Indigenous Defense Fighters.
Zhang emphasized that "using weapons to support independence will only bring fire upon oneself" and that "containing China through Taiwan won't succeed." He urged the US to immediately stop arming Taiwan to prevent damaging bilateral relations.
The arms package, announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, represents the first weapons sale to Taiwan during President Trump's second term. Chinese authorities including the Taiwan Affairs Office and Foreign Ministry have also denounced the sale as sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence forces."
China maintains it will take all necessary measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, describing Taiwan's weapons purchases as "drinking poison to quench thirst" that are doomed to fail.
