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Chinese defense ministry opposes U.S. arms sale to Taiwan

Xinhua, December 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Chinese Defense Ministry on Thursday expressed strong opposition to U.S. government's authorization of a billion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan and urged the U.S. to revoke the sale.

"The United States' wrongdoing of selling arms to Taiwan will inevitably harm China-U.S. military relations," said Defense Ministry spokesperson Yang Yujun in a press release.

The U.S. State Department on Wednesday notified Congress of a 1.83-billion U.S.dollar deal to sell two Perry-class guided-missile frigates, anti-tank missiles, AAV-7 amphibious assault vehicles, Stinger surface-to-air missiles and other military equipment to Taiwan in the face of Beijing's strong opposition.

Yang said the Taiwan issue concerns China's sovereignty, territorial integrity and its core interests, and China will resolutely oppose any foreign government's arms sale to Taiwan.

The United States have violated the three China-U.S. joint communiques, particularly the commitment specified in the Aug. 17, 1982 Joint Communique, said the spokesperson. Under the joint communique, the United States promises to gradually reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan and eventually stop selling weapons to Taiwan

Yang said the U.S. action "brutally" interfered with China's internal affairs, "sabotaged" China's sovereignty and security interests, and "damaged the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations."

The Chinese armed forces' position on safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity is resolute and clear, he said.

"We strongly urge the U.S. government to abide by the three China-U.S. joint communiques, honor its commitment to China on the Taiwan issue, cancel the announced arms sale to Taiwan, stop arms sales to Taiwan and cut U.S.-Taiwan military ties, thus preventing further damage to China-U.S. military ties and overall relations," he said.

China's Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang summoned Kaye Lee, charge d'affaires of the U.S. embassy in China, on Wednesday to make solemn representations to the U.S. over the deal. Endi