China says it “firmly opposes” the United States’ approval of new military aid to Taiwan, warning that the move “seriously violates” the one-China principle and threatens China’s sovereignty and security interests.

On Saturday, President Joe Biden approved the delivery of a new military package worth $571 million to Taiwan. His administration also approved the sale of new arms sales worth $295 million to the self-ruled Island.

The decision is a “severe breach of the US leaders’ commitment of not supporting Taiwan’s independence,” a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Sunday.

It sends “a gravely wrong signal to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces,” the spokesperson continued.

The spokesperson stated that China strongly deplores and firmly opposes these actions and has lodged serious protests with the US.

“The Taiwan question is at the core of China’s interests, and the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-US relations.”

The Chinese diplomat emphasized that “China urges the US to immediately stop arming Taiwan and stop the dangerous moves that undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and [China] will take all measures necessary to firmly defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.”

The US does not officially recognize Taiwan diplomatically, but is the self-ruled island’s strategic ally and largest supplier of weapons.

China, which has increased its political and military pressure on Taiwan in recent years, has repeatedly called for Washington to cease sending arms and assistance to the island, which it considers part of its territory.

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