China firmly objects US' military sale to Taiwan

The United States should revoke its military sale plan worth about $95 million to Taiwan, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Wednesday, adding that China will continue to take firm and forceful measures to safeguard its own sovereignty and security interests.

The US State Department approved the possible sale, including technical assistance support of the Patriot Air Defense System, the US Department of Defense's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said on Tuesday.

Commenting at a daily news conference, Zhao said China objects firmly, denounces strongly the US' move, and asked the US to observe the one-China principle and the three China-US communiques.

By selling weapons to Taiwan, the US has violated the principle and the stipulation in the aforementioned communiques, especially the one issued on August 17, 1982. The US has also undermined China's sovereignty and security interests, its ties with the US, and peace across the Taiwan Straits, Zhao said.