The Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced the US arms sales to Taiwan, and confirmed that China will take measures to defend its security, after Washington approved a new $180 million arms deal for the island.
During a press conference today, Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that the United States should adhere to the "one China" policy, refrain from instigating Taiwan for independence, and refrain from provocation in the Taiwan Strait, as he put it.
This comes after the US State Department approved on Wednesday the sale of anti-tank systems to Taiwan, in the latest arms contract between the island and its main ally.
The Pentagon confirmed that Taiwan will acquire Vulcano anti-tank systems, trucks and ammunition, as part of "Taiwan's ongoing efforts to modernize its armed forces and maintain a coherent defense capability," and said that the deal "will not change the basic military balance (of the region)." According to a statement issued by the ministry.
China reacted angrily to the visits of Western politicians to Taiwan, and organized major military exercises to protest the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last August, which caused an unparalleled escalation in years.
Yesterday, Thursday, the US military said that a Chinese military plane came within 6 meters of an American fighter, and its pilot had to maneuver to avoid a collision between the two planes over the South China Sea on December 21.
On the other hand, the Japanese Joint Chiefs of Staff said that on the 28th of this month, the Liaoning aircraft carrier of the Chinese Navy continued more military activity in the Pacific Ocean.
The authority indicated that the Chinese aircraft carrier had traveled south to the west of the island of Guam - which includes the largest US military center in the Pacific Ocean - between the 23rd and 25th of this month.