"The United States should stop playing with fire on the Taiwan issue, stop forming various kinds of anti-Chinese "cliques" aimed at containing China," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Earlier, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said that the United States is committed to the one China policy, but will help Taiwan to strengthen its defensive capabilities and is ready to resist any attempt to use force against the island.
At the same time, China stated that the PRC Armed Forces are ready to develop cooperation with the US military, but China will not compromise on the Taiwan issue.