Atlanta, USA (CNN) — Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing Thursday that China firmly opposes recent US arms sales to Taiwan, and said the United States should stop arms sales and military contacts with the self-ruled democratic island. .
Commenting on Washington’s recently announced deal to Taiwan, Mao said: “US arms sales seriously undermine China’s sovereignty and security interests, Sino-US relations, and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
Mao added that Beijing will continue to take “resolute and forceful measures” to safeguard its sovereignty and security interests.
Beijing has regularly opposed US arms sales or official contacts with Taiwan.
The Taiwanese government expressed its “sincere gratitude” to the United States after the Biden administration approved a potential arms deal worth about $619 million to Taiwan, including missiles for F-16 fighter jets.
“The Air Force has full combat capabilities with the two types of missiles that the United States has agreed to sell this time,” Taiwan’s defense minister said in a statement Thursday. Stockpiling weapons and strengthening our defense capabilities,” he said.
The minister added, “Providing our country with defense weapons is the basis for maintaining regional peace, and the Ministry of National Defense expresses our sincere gratitude to the United States,” he said.
Taiwanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Jeff Liu said at a press conference that the ministry “strongly welcomed” the announcement and expressed gratitude to the United States for implementing its security guarantees for Taiwan.
He continued, “It is the ninth time that the United States announces the provision of weapons to Taiwan during the Biden administration,” and added: “In the face of military expansion and continuous Chinese provocations, Taiwan will continue to raise its capabilities in self-defense and deepen the close security partnership between Taiwan and the United States.” As he said.
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