Beijing – Saba:
The Chinese Ministry of Defense warned Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities on Monday against relying on US weapons, stressing that "this approach will not protect them and will lead to further escalation in the region."
This came in statements by Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Jiang Bin, commenting on reports that the United States is sending a new batch of M1A2 tanks to Taiwan, according to the Chinese newspaper Global Times.
The newspaper noted that there are US plans to increase arms sales to the island over the next four years, potentially exceeding the volume of sales during Trump's first term in office.
The newspaper reported that "about 500 US troops are currently operating in Taiwan, ten times more than previously disclosed by the US Congress."
A Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman described these reports as "new evidence of attempts by the United States and separatist forces seeking "Taiwan independence" to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait."
He emphasized that China views these moves as a clear provocation and a source of destabilization, noting that "the Chinese military will continue to enhance its combat readiness and take resolute measures to thwart any foreign interference in Chinese affairs."
He considered the Taiwan issue to be the core of China's national interests and the first red line in Sino-American relations, stressing that "Beijing will not accept any form of US military cooperation with Taiwan."
It is worth noting that China has warned the United States against supporting Taiwan and encouraging it to pursue what China describes as "dangerous policies," after Washington announced that it would aid Taiwan if attacked by China.
Beijing asserts that Taiwan is part of Chinese territory under the "One China" principle, while the island's ruling Democratic Progressive Party considers it an "independent state."
A few days ago, Reuters quoted two US officials as saying that The United States intends to increase arms sales to Taiwan to levels exceeding those achieved during President Donald Trump's first term.
The two officials revealed that the United States is pressuring members of Taiwan's opposition parties not to oppose the government's efforts to increase defense spending to 3% of the island's economic output.
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