China urges US to carefully handle Taiwan question

A Chinese mainland spokeswoman, on Friday, voiced firm opposition after the United States has approved a potential $180 million arms sale to Taiwan, urging Washington to carefully handle the Taiwan question.

The US government has informed the Congress, on Wednesday, of the approval of the possible sale of military equipment including vehicle-launched anti-tank systems, amid recent tensions between the island and the Chinese mainland.

It came after Biden's signing into law of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 last week that claimed to authorize $10 billion in security assistance and $2 billion in military loans to Taiwan over the next five years.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a statement that the latest sale seriously violated the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, especially the August 17 Communique.

"The act condoned and supported the 'Taiwan independence' forces and undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits," she said.

She urged the US side to fulfill its commitment not to support "Taiwan independence", stop arms sales to Taiwan and any military contacts with the island, and prudently handle the Taiwan question.

Zhu also warned the authorities of the Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan that attempts to reject reunification with the mainland by force and to engage with external forces for "independence" were doomed to failure.