Chinese Foreign Minister Demands US Stop Arms Supplies to Taiwan

The Chinese Foreign Minister informed the US Secretary of State that Beijing demands Washington to stop arms sales to Taiwan.

BEIJING (Sputnik) – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has demanded in a phone conversation with his US counterpart John Kerry that Washington stop arms supplies to Taiwan, the Chinese ministry said in a statement Monday.

"Wang Yi has demonstrated to John Kerry China’s firm and decisive stance <…> on the Taiwanese issue, demanding from the US side that it stop selling weapons to Taiwan," the statement said.

Last week, the administration of US President Barack Obama sought congressional approval for a $1.83 billion arms sale to Taiwan, including two Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, amphibious assault vehicles, surface to air missiles, as well as shipborne rapid-fire guns intended to counter missiles.

Following the announcement of the proposed sale, Beijing threatened economic sanctions against US companies involved.

China threatened similar actions in 2011, when the United States made a $5.8 billion military sale to Taiwan.

In 1949, the Chinese Nationalist government was defeated by the Communists and had to flee from China to Taiwan, where it formed a separate government.

Since then, the relations between China and Taiwan have been strained, as China refuses to recognize Taiwan as a separate and independent political and diplomatic entity.