China demands US stop selling arms to Taiwan

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Both Chinese Foreign Ministry and the country's Defense Ministry said on Monday that China strongly opposed the United States selling weapons to Taiwan, after the US Department of State agreed to grant the required license to the island so it could build its own submarines.

China’s Defense Ministry responded in an online statement about the issue, demanding that the US “halt all forms of military links between the United States and Taiwan, as well as all forms of weapon sales to Taiwan.”

“China’s military has the ability and determination to defeat all attempts to separate our country, and will adopt all necessary measures to resolutely defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity,” ministry spokesman Wu Qian said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang reiterated that the one-China policy is the basis for Sino-US relationship. The US side should halt their official contacts with Taiwan immediately.

"To avoid damaging the Sino-US relationship as well as the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, the US should stop its military connections with Taiwan, and halt selling arms to Taiwan," Geng said.

The US State Department over the weekend declined to confirm the details of the Taiwan news report.

(Top image: Army soldiers operate a 240mm caliber Howitzer during a military drill as part of their routine military training in Nangan on May 8, 2013, in Matsu, Taiwan. /VCG Photo)

(With input from Reuters)