Beijing: US arms sales to Taiwan hurt China’s security interests

Beijing protests to Washington over US arms sales to Taiwan, as these US actions undermine China’s sovereignty, Report informs referring to the Ministry of Defense of China.

“The sale of arms by the United States to Taiwan seriously violates the One-China policy and the provisions of the three joint communiqués between China and the United States, in particular the communiqué of August 17 [of 1982],” reads a statement posted on the ministry’s website.

The ministry believes that the US “grossly interferes in China’s internal affairs, harms the country’s sovereignty and security interests, destroys military relations between China and the US, and endangers peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.” “In this regard, China expresses strong dissatisfaction and protest.”

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said on February 7 that the State Department approved the provision of services and equipment sales to Taiwan for the technical support, maintenance and improvement of Patriot air defense systems. The deal is worth $100 million. According to DSCA, the agreement is planned to be implemented as part of the Patriot air defense maintenance program, participation in which is a requirement of the US government. Raytheon Technologies and Lockheed Martin corporation were named as contractors.