Beijing said on Sunday that it “firmly” opposed new American aid of $571 million granted to the defense of Taiwan, an island subject to increased Chinese military pressure.
“This decision seriously undermines China's sovereignty and its security interests,” said the Chinese Foreign Ministry, affirming that it “firmly opposes” it.
The White House announced Friday that it wanted to send military “articles and services” in order to “provide assistance to Taiwan” for $571 million one month before President Joe Biden leaves office.
It had already approved aid of $567 million in September.
On Friday, the State Department said it had approved the sale of $295 million in military equipment to the island.
Chinese diplomacy denounced a “violation of the one-China principle”.
Washington has long been Taipei's most important ally and largest arms supplier, angering Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory.
The United States historically maintains a policy of “strategic ambiguity” regarding possible military intervention if Taiwan were attacked by China.
The new aid “contradicts the serious commitments of American leaders” not to support “Taiwan independence,” responded Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, an organ of the Chinese government.
“We demand that the United States immediately stop arming Taiwan and handle the Taiwan issue with the utmost caution,” she said, according to public broadcaster CCTV.
Beijing has intensified military and political pressure on Taipei in recent years, regularly sending warships and fighter planes around Taiwan.
Taipei said last week that China had carried out a massive naval deployment near its waters, citing “nearly 90” ships.
Over the past five decades, the United States has sold billions of dollars worth of military equipment and munitions to Taiwan, including F-16 fighter jets and warships.
