Mainland condemns planned Taiwan arms sale

A Chinese mainland spokesman on Thursday urged the United States to cancel a planned arms sale to Taiwan and stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question.

The US on Wednesday announced a sale of $120 million in ship parts, ship system parts and related equipment to Taiwan, the fourth arms package approved under US President Joe Biden.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a statement on Thursday "We firmly oppose US arms sales to China's Taiwan region."

The move gravely violated the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, especially the Aug 17 communique, he said.

"It is a show of support for 'Taiwan independence' forces and a serious violation of the commitment the US had made to not support 'Taiwan independence'," he added.

The Democratic Progressive Party administration on Taiwan attempts to purchase weapons and uses force to reject unification with the mainland, Ma said, adding "It will only further damage the interests of Taiwan compatriots and push them into fire."

He warned the DPP authorities to immediately stop their provocative acts of colluding with foreign forces for "independence".