Beijing warned President Donald Trump that the first U.S. arms sale to Taiwan under his second administration “gravely infringes” on China’s sovereignty and interests and that it would take “all necessary measures” in response.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press conference on Friday that the U.S. sale “seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, particularly the August 17 Communiqué,” referring to earlier U.S.-China diplomatic agreements that relate to Taiwan, according to the state-run Global Times publication.
Taiwan is a self-governing democracy that China claims as its own territory. Beijing seeks to eventually take control of Taiwan, with force if necessary.
Lin continued that the move “gravely infringes on China’s sovereignty and security interests, breaches international law, and sends a grave and erroneous signal to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces.”
“China is strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposes the decision,” Lin added, per Global Times.
He warned: “China will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard its national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.”
China had also issued a stark warning to Japan after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi remarked on the possibility of military intervention should Beijing impose a blockade on Taiwan.