China calls Taiwan a ‘red line’, criticises new US military aid to island

BEIJING: China said on Sunday it “firmly opposed” US President Joe Biden´s approval of $571.3 million in defence assistance for Taiwan.

The White House said on Friday that Biden had authorised the drawdown “of up to $571.3 million in defence articles and services of the Department of Defence, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Taiwan”.

The White House statement did not provide details of the military assistance package, which comes less than three months after one worth $567 million was authorised.

“This move gravely infringes on China´s sovereignty and security interests,” Beijing´s foreign ministry said in a statement, adding it “firmly opposes this action”.

China “has lodged stern representations with the US at the earliest opportunity”, it said.

The country´s Taiwan Affairs Office said such actions by the US “contradict its leaders´ serious commitments” to not supporting “Taiwan independence”.

“We demand that the US immediately cease arming Taiwan and handle the Taiwan issue with the utmost caution,” said spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

The United States does not officially recognise Taiwan diplomatically, but it is the self-ruled island´s strategic ally and largest supplier of weapons.

China, which has ramped up 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 claims as part of its territory.

Taiwan received 38 advanced Abrams battle tanks from the United States this week -- reportedly its first new tanks in 30 years.China will take “all necessary measures” to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, a foreign ministry spokesperson said, calling Taiwan “a red line that must not be crossed” in China-US relations, according to a statement released by the ministry.