China urges the U.S. to stop arming Taiwan: FM

(ECNS) -- China urges the U.S. to stop arming Taiwan and undermining the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on Wednesday, in response to a report that the Trump administration has released $5.3 billion in previously frozen foreign aid, including $870 million designated for military assistance to Taiwan.

“We are deeply concerned over relevant reports,” Lin said, adding that China has all along opposed U.S. military assistance to China’s Taiwan region, which has severely violated the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, undermined China’s sovereignty and security interests, and sent a gravely wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.

China will closely follow the situation and firmly defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, he concluded.