On July 9, the US State Department approved a plan to sell weapons worth about 2.22 billion US dollars to Taiwan. In response, the spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense said the Chinese military is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to the arms deal, and has lodged stern representations with the US side.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the US. The One-China Principle is an acknowledged norm of international relations and a consensus in the international community, as well as the political foundation for China-US relationship. The US also committed in the China-US Joint Communiqué (August 17, 1982) to gradually reducing and eventually terminating arms sales to Taiwan.
Since coming into office, the Trump administration has announced at multiple international occasions its commitment to "upholding the one-China policy" and its wish for "stable development of relations across the Taiwan Strait", yet it went back on its words while they were still lingering by the ear. In recent years, the US has attempted to achieve so-called "normalization" of arms sales to Taiwan, in total disregard of opposition from the Chinese government.
The US frequently and blatantly sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces regardless of a sovereign nation's fundamental interests has seriously violated the one-China principle that it has repeatedly confirmed as well as the basic rules of international law and relations. Its actions have not only harmed the feelings of Chinese people, but also gravely damaged its own political credibility.
China's resolute opposition to the US arms sales to Taiwan is firm and consistent; its opposition to military ties of any form between the US and Taiwan is firm and consistent.
China in the modern history suffered from over 100 years of external invasion, during which the country was battered and ravaged and the people were afflicted and devastated. This miserable period of history has been engraved in the memory of all the Chinese people, and it is China’s undying historical mission to achieve national reunification fully and completely. Foreign countries should never expect China to trade its core interests or to swallow the bitter fruit of damaging China’s sovereignty, security and development interests.
Any attempt to split China will be in vain, any interference in the Taiwan question will be doomed to fail, and any underestimation of the PLA's determination and will to safeguard national unity is extremely dangerous. The Chinese PLA has the adamant will, full confidence and sufficient capability to foil any form of foreign interference and Taiwan secession efforts, and will take all necessary actions to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
China is willing to show the greatest sincerity and make utmost efforts for a peaceful reunification, but it will not commit to the abandonment of the use of force. If anyone dares to try to split Taiwan from China, the Chinese military will resolutely safeguard national unity at all costs.
