China to Take Necessary Measures on US Arms Sales to Taiwan

The US State Department has approved the potential sale of 100 Boeing-made Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems to China's Taiwan region in a deal that has a potential value of up to $2.37 billion, the Pentagon said on Monday.

Speaking on Tuesday's regular press briefing, spokesperson Wang Wenbin voiced firm opposition to US arms sales to China's Taiwan region, stressing that the move seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint Communiques, especially the August 17 Communique, severely interfering in China's internal affairs and undermining China's sovereignty and security interests.

"The move has sent deeply wrong signals to the 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces, and jeopardized China-US relations," said Wang, CGTN reported.

He urged the US side to cease arms sales to Taiwan and military contact with the island, and withdraw other arms sales plans, to avoid further damages to China-US ties and peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

"China is going to make legitimate and necessary responses to safeguard its own sovereignty and security interests," Wang added.

The United States' newly approved plan comes days after the State Department approved the potential sale of three other weapons systems to Taiwan, including sensors, missiles and artillery that could have a total value of $1.8 billion.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Monday that China has decided to impose sanctions on relevant US enterprises involved in the latest arms sales to Taiwan as well as individuals and entities playing a "vile role" in the process, as "necessary steps" to protect its national interests.

The US companies concerned include Lockheed Martin, Boeing Defense and Raytheon.