Beijing: China is upset over the United States supplying arms to Taiwan and is ready to go to war if there is a move for independence by the Taiwanese. China sees Taiwan as a wayward province which is part of mainland China; however, Taiwan calls itself the Republic of China.
The Chinese accused the United States of undermining global stability and condemned the arms sales to Taiwan. The Pentagon said that weapons, including tanks and stinger missiles, will be given to Taiwan under a $2.2 billion deal.
China announced that it will sanction all the US firms taking part in the deal.
Defence Ministry Spokesperson, Wu Qian, while outlining the military strategic concerns of China in a news briefing, told, “If there are people who dare to try to split Taiwan from the country, China’s military will be ready to go to war to firmly safeguard national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.”
He stressed that seeking Taiwan’s independence is a dead end. China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. The United States supplies arms to the island nation and is bound by law to protect it from any aggression including that of China’s.
Taiwan responded to this aggressive statement of Beijing in a statement which said, “provocative behaviour … seriously violated the peace principle in international laws and relations, challenging regional safety and order”.
“We urge Beijing authorities to renounce irrational, malicious acts such as the use of force, and to improve cross-strait relations and handle issues including Hong Kong rationally, so that it can be a responsible regional member.”