China promised “decisive countermeasures” against the US-approved sale of weapons to Taiwan and expressed displeasure with the passage of the Taiwanese president through American territory, reports Reuters, as quoted by Focus.
On Friday, the Pentagon said the US State Department had approved the potential sale of spare parts, F-16 fighter jet maintenance and radars to Taiwan worth about $385 million.
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The sale was announced hours before Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te left for a visit to Taipei's three diplomatic allies in the Pacific, with stops in Hawaii and the US territory of Guam.
China's Foreign Ministry said the deal sends the “wrong signal” to Taiwan independence supporters and undermines relations between Washington and Beijing.
China, which regards democratically-ruled Taiwan as its territory and considers it the most important issue in relations with the US, strongly condemns President Lai, calling him a “separatist”.
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The United States, despite having no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, is required by law to provide Taipei with means of self-defense, which invariably provokes Beijing's ire.