On Thursday in Washington, China threatened the United States with “powerful” sanctions for its recent sale of defense hardware to Taiwan.
China has warned that it will “safeguard” its national sovereignty and territorial integrity if the United States goes through with the sale to the island nation, which Beijing claims as its own territory.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin urged the United States to “stop the dangerous trend of arming the island,” according to the Beijing-based Global Times.
The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that the US State Department has cleared a possible $500 million sale of F-16 Infrared Search and Track (IRST) systems and related equipment to Taiwan.
The Chinese capital “will take resolute, powerful measures to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Wang pledged.
In a’stern warning’ to Taiwan, China has been holding military drills.
The Pentagon claimed in a statement that it had informed US Congress of the potential sale earlier that day.
It was stated in the statement that the proposed sale of the weaponry and support would not change the basic military balance in the region.
The Biden administration authorized the sale of F-16 ammunition and associated equipment to Taiwan for around $619 million in March.
China has frequently asked the United States to stop supporting Taiwan militarily and to stop selling weapons to the island. The government has also approved the sale of weaponry to the island nation by American defense firms.
