Beijing has blasted the United States for supplying arms to Taiwan and demanded that it abandon a proposed US$120 million deal with the self-ruled island.
The US government on Wednesday announced the proposed sale of naval ship spare parts and related equipment as well as logistical support for Taiwan in the fourth such deal since President Joe Biden took office in January last year.
It comes ahead of US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin's first meeting with his Chinese counterpart General Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore this weekend.
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Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Thursday hit out at US arms sales to Taiwan, saying they "seriously violate the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiques ... gravely undermine China's sovereignty and security interests, and severely harm China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait".
He urged Washington to abide by the one-China principle and the three joint communiques and to withdraw its proposed deal with Taiwan.
Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said US arms sales to Taiwan "gravely undermine China's sovereignty and security interests". Photo: AP alt=Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said US arms sales to Taiwan "gravely undermine China's sovereignty and security interests". Photo: AP>
According to a statement released by the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency on Wednesday, Taiwan had requested unclassified spare parts for ships and ship systems, logistical technical assistance, US government and contractor representative technical and logistical support, and other logistical and programme support.
"This proposed sale serves US national, economic and security interests by supporting the recipient's continuing efforts to maintain a credible defensive capability. The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance and economic progress in the region," it said.
The agency said the deal would help Taiwan maintain its surface vessel fleet, "enhancing its ability to meet current and future threats".
"The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region," it said.
Taiwan's presidential office, foreign and defence ministries on Thursday all expressed appreciation for the new US arms package, which will be sent to Congress for approval and signing by Biden in a month or so.