Photo: Lin Jian, spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry

China firmly opposes US arms sales to the Taiwan island and urges the US to strictly adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, particularly the August 17 communiqué, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday.

Lin was responding to a Reuters report that the US plans to ramp up weapons sales to Taiwan to a level exceeding President Donald Trump's first-term total of approximately $18.3 billion. Citing two unnamed US officials, the report said arms sale approvals over the next four years are expected to exceed the previous total.

Lin said that the Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests and constitutes the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations. 

Lin called on the US to immediately halt arms sales to Taiwan and refrain from escalating tensions in the Taiwan Straits. China's determination to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering, Lin said.

Global Times