China threatens 'forceful measures' over US $11.1 billion arms sales package to Taiwan

BEIJING – China’s military will step up training and take “forceful measures” to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the defense ministry said on Friday, responding to a planned $11.1 billion U.S. arms sales package to Taiwan.

The package, the largest ever approved by the United States for the island that Beijing considers its own territory, comes as China has intensified military and political pressure on Taiwan.

In a statement, the ministry said it had lodged “stern representations” with Washington and urged the United States to immediately stop arms sales to Taiwan and honor its commitment not to support what it called “Taiwan independence forces.”

“The ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces, at the cost of the safety and well-being of Taiwan compatriots, are using the hard-earned money of ordinary people to enrich U.S. arms dealers in an attempt to seek independence by relying on military force,” the ministry said.

It added that the United States, by repeatedly going back on its word and indulging and supporting Taiwan independence, was “bound to get burned itself.”

“The Chinese People’s Liberation Army will continue to strengthen training and combat readiness, take strong measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely frustrate attempts at ‘Taiwan independence’ separatism and external interference,” the statement said.

The ministry did not provide details on the specific actions it may take.

Washington has formal diplomatic relations with Beijing but maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan and remains the island’s most important arms supplier. U.S. law requires Washington to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, though such sales remain a persistent source of tension between the two powers.

The latest weapons package includes HIMARS rocket systems manufactured by Lockheed Martin, which have been used extensively by Ukraine against Russian forces.

Taiwan’s democratically elected government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future.

China has rebuffed repeated offers of talks with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, labeling him a “separatist,” and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. -Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Kate Mayberryuo/Reuters