China Warns US of Severe Consequences for Arms Sales to Taiwan

A Chinese defense spokesperson has issued a stark warning to the United States over its recent approval of $1.988 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, urging Washington to understand the “severe consequences” of arming the island. Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang of China’s Ministry of National Defense stated that this move undermines China’s sovereignty, damages China-US relations, and threatens peace across the Taiwan Strait, sending dangerous signals to pro-independence forces in Taiwan.

Col. Zhang condemned the arms sales, citing a violation of the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués. He criticized the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan for purchasing US weapons, alleging that they do so to solicit support from Washington, at the expense of Taiwan’s people. According to Zhang, history has shown that foreign interference and pro-independence actions destabilize the region and pose a risk to cross-strait stability.

In response to the arms sale, China reiterated that the Taiwan issue is central to its core interests and represents a “red line” in China-US relations. Zhang emphasized that a few US arms will not shift the military balance and reaffirmed the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) commitment to improving combat readiness to protect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.