Q: On October 26, the US Defense Department announced that the State Department has approved US$ 1.988 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, including the “National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems” and radar systems. What’s China’s comment?

A: The US arms sales to China’s Taiwan region seriously violate the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, especially the August 17 Communiqué of 1982. The sales seriously undermine China’s sovereignty and security interests, harm China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and send a gravely wrong message to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. China strongly condemns and firmly opposes this and has lodged serious protests with the US.

The US’s decision to use Taiwan to contain China and help advance “Taiwan independence” agenda by arming Taiwan goes against the US leaders’ commitment of not supporting “Taiwan independence” and the two sides’ effort of stabilizing China-US relations. China urges the US to immediately stop arming Taiwan and stop the dangerous moves that undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We will take resolute countermeasures and take all measures necessary to firmly defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.