China warns US against “playing with fire” by supplying arms to Taiwan

China has warned the US that sending weapons to Taiwan would be akin to “playing with fire” and would have serious consequences.

The US recently announced $571.3 million (£473 million) in military aid to the island and approved $295 million in arms sales.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Sunday that the move violated the “One China” principle and the three China-US joint communiqués. Global times reported. The principle states that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and must one day be unified.

The decision to send more weapons is also a violation of the US leadership’s pledges not to support “Taiwan independence” and sends a completely wrong signal to the “separatist forces” on the island, the state media outlet quoted the as saying Speaker.

Supporting Taiwan’s independence by arming the island is like playing with fire and will end the United States, they said.

In any case, the strategy of using the “Taiwan issue” to contain China is doomed to failure, the media added.

Beijing has lodged a formal protest with Washington against the arms sales. It has also called on the US to immediately stop arming Taiwan and end any moves that undermine cross-strait peace and stability.

“We will take all necessary measures to resolutely defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity,” the spokesman said.

China imposed sanctions on five Western arms manufacturers earlier this year following American arms sales to Taiwan.

The Joe Biden administration’s military aid package for Taiwan, the third this year, comes with the sale of improved tactical systems and naval weapons. Chinese strategic analysts dismissed the importance of the new weapons for Taiwan, but pointed to their cost and accused the U.S. of exploiting the island to benefit its weapons manufacturers.

Tensions across the Taiwan Strait remain at boiling point as Beijing stepped up military drills near the island in October, which it described as “punishment” for President Lai Ching-te, who vowed to “annex” or “interfere.” in our sovereignty”.

China views Taiwan as its own territory and President Xi Jinping has vowed to unify the island with the mainland by force if necessary.