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The Chinese government has condemned the United States for a recent arms sale to Taiwan, warning that the US is “playing with fire.”
Some shit you should know before you read: On Friday, the Biden administration confirmed a new package of military support for Taiwan, including $571.3 million in defense assistance and $295 million in arms sales. The $571.3 million allocation includes funding for Defense Department equipment, services, and military training designed to strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities. The $295 million arms sale package will also provide Taiwan with upgraded tactical radio systems and advanced naval weaponry. These follow the first deliveries of US-made abrams tanks for Taiwan, with the island receiving 38 over the last week to update its aging tank fleet.
What’s going on now: In response to the Biden administration’s move, the Chinese government issued a statement condemning the military aid and arms sales to Taiwan as a violation of its sovereignty and a destabilizing action in the region. In a statement, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the move “gravely infringes on China’s sovereignty and security interests,” adding that China “firmly opposes this action” and had lodged “stern representations with the US at the earliest opportunity.”
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office echoed this sentiment, stating that the arms sales contradict US leaders’ commitments not to support “Taiwan’s independence.” Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the office, demanded that the US “immediately cease arming Taiwan and handle the Taiwan issue with the utmost caution.”
This all comes as China has continued to express anger over US arms sales to Taiwan, accusing Washington of violating its commitment to the One China policy. Established through a series of agreements in the 1970s, this policy acknowledges Beijing’s claim over Taiwan while allowing the United States to maintain unofficial ties with the island. While the US keeps its commitment to the policy, it justifies arms sales under the Taiwan Relations Act, which mandates support for Taiwan’s self-defense—a stance Beijing argues undermines the agreement.
