Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun

"We already clarified China's solemn position on this issue yesterday," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Friday, in response to some media reports claiming that the US approval of large-scale arms sales to Taiwan was aimed at "helping Taiwan maintain sufficient defensive capabilities." Guo added that the large-scale arms sales by the US to Taiwan constitute a gross interference in China's internal affairs, seriously undermining China's sovereignty and security interests as well as its territorial integrity, gravely jeopardizing peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, and sending a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces of "Taiwan independence" and external forces.

Guo said China expresses strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition, and has lodged a stern protest with the US side at the earliest opportunity.

Guo said "We must emphasize that China's core interests admit of no damage, the Taiwan question brooks no interference, and China's bottom line shall not be crossed." "Taiwan independence" is incompatible with peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, and any act of arming Taiwan will face severe consequences, he added.

The real threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits lies in the "Taiwan independence" separatist activities of the Lai Ching-te authorities and interference by external forces, according to Guo.

The spokesperson said that the so-called claim of "helping Taiwan address threats" will only embolden "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, place the Taiwan residents on a powder keg, push the Taiwan Straits into a dangerous situation, and will inevitably raise the risk of China-US conflict and confrontation.

No one and no force should underestimate the firm resolve and strong capability of the Chinese government and people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Guo said, adding that no matter how many advanced weapons are sold to Taiwan, they cannot halt the historical trend that China will surely and inevitably be reunified. 

China will take all necessary measures to uphold its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Guo added.

China urges the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, fulfill the solemn commitments made by the US leader, cease its dangerous act of arming Taiwan, stop undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, and refrain from sending erroneous signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.


Global Times