China has warned the US can expect a “strong and resolute” response after Congress green-lit the sale of $75 million worth of military equipment to Taiwan.
Beijing claimed the move undermined its relationship with the United States and “violates” the main tenets of the One China policy long agreed between the two nations.
Under the new package, the first approved by the US Congress since last month’s elections in Taipei, the island nation will receive a Link 16 data system and other logistic support.
Responding to the agreement, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said: “The US arms sales to China’s Taiwan region seriously violate the One China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiques, especially the August 17 (third) communique of 1982.
“China will take strong and resolute measures to firmly defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
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Mao also hit out at a delegation of members of Congress who headed to Taiwan this week to meet with local politicians.
She said: “China opposes any form of official interaction between the US and Taiwan authorities and rejects US interference in Taiwan affairs in whatever form or under whatever pretext.”
Beijing has long protested any official interaction between the US and Taiwan but is particularly dissatisfied with the House Select Committee, which was formed in 2023 and is known for its hawkish views of China’s ruling party.
In Taiwan, Rep. Mike Gallagher and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi suggested ways to speed up the delivery of military weapons to Taiwan, including joint production of some weapons that do not need intellectual property transfer, according to a report by Central News Agency, the island’s main wire service.
Gallagher said: “Today, we’ve come as Democrats and Republicans to show our bipartisan support for this partnership, which, thanks to your leadership, I think is stronger and more rock solid than ever.”
