China summons U.S. envoy, protests arms sales to Taiwan

China on Thursday said it had summoned U.S. Ambassador to strongly protest America’s massive $1.83 billion weapons sales, including two warships, to Taiwan and has warned that it will take “new measures” including sanctions against the U.S. firms involved in such business.

Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang on Wednesday summoned Kaye Lee, Charge d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in China, and conveyed the protest to the U.S. over its arms sale to Taiwan.

Mr. Zheng made the statement shortly after the U.S. administration announced a $1.83-billion arms sale package for Taiwan to beef up its defences.

Range of military equipment

The agreement includes two frigates, anti-tank missiles, TOW 2B anti-tank missiles, AAV-7 Amphibious Assault Vehicles and a range of other military equipment.

“Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. China strongly opposes the U.S. arms sale to Taiwan,” Mr. Zheng said.

“Harms Chinese sovereignty”

“The arms sale severely goes against international law and the basic norms of international relations, severely goes against the principles in the three China-U.S. joint communiques and severely harms China’s sovereignty and security interests,” he said.

“To safeguard our national interests, China has decided to take necessary measures, including imposing sanctions against the companies involved in the arms sale,” Mr. Zheng said.

“No one can shake our will”

“No one can shake the firm will of the Chinese government and people to defend their national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to oppose foreign interference,” Mr. Zheng told the U.S. envoy.

“China urges the U.S. to abide by the clear commitment it has made in the three joint communiques, revoke the arms sale plan, and stop military contact with Taiwan, so as to avoid bringing further damage to China-U.S. relations and bilateral cooperation in major areas,” Mr. Zheng said.

China routinely protests about arms sales to Pakistan.