China’s military will step up training and “take forceful measures” to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the defence ministry said Friday in response to a planned $11.1 billion U.S. arms sales package to Taiwan.
The package, the largest ever by the United States to the island Beijing claims as its territory, comes amid increasing Chinese military and political pressure on Taiwan.
The ministry said it lodged “stern representations” with the United States and urged it to immediately halt arms sales to Taiwan and honor its commitment not to support “Taiwan independence forces.”
“The ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces, at the cost of the safety and well-being of Taiwan compatriots, use the hard-earned money of ordinary people to fatten U.S. arms dealers in an attempt to ‘seek independence by relying on military force’,” the ministry said.
The statement added, “The United States, by repeatedly going back on its word, indulging and supporting Taiwan independence, is ‘bound to get burned itself.’”
“The Chinese People’s Liberation Army will continue to strengthen training and combat readiness, take strong measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely frustrate attempts at ‘Taiwan independence’ separatism and external interference.”
Washington maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan and is its main arms supplier, including the latest package of HIMARS rocket systems.
Taiwan rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, asserting that only its people can decide their future.
China has dismissed offers of talks with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, labeling him a “separatist” and has not ruled out the use of force to assert control.