BEIJING – China criticised new U.S. military aid to Taiwan on Sunday, saying the $571 million package seriously violates the “one China principle” and provisions of joint communiques between China and the U.S.
China will take “all necessary measures” to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, a foreign ministry spokesperson said, calling Taiwan “a red line that must not be crossed” in China-U.S. relations, according to a statement released by the ministry.
Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday agreed to provide $571.3 million in defence support for Taiwan, the White House said, while the State Department approved the potential sale to the island of $265 million worth of command, control, communications, and computer modernization equipment.
This followed Taiwan’s decision to go on alert last week in response to what it described as China’s largest naval force buildup in three decades, both around Taiwan and in the East and South China Seas.
The $571 million in military assistance comes on top of Biden’s authorization of $567 million for the same purposes in late September. The military sales include $265 million for about 300 tactical radio systems and $30 million for 16-gun mounts.
