China is not happy about Washington's latest move on Taiwan. Lin Jian, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, condemned the United States on Thursday for greenlighting an $11.15 billion arms package to Taiwan. He called it a "gross violation" of the one-China principle and the agreements that have historically governed U.S.-China relations.
"The U.S. blatantly announced its plan to sell massive advanced weapons to China's Taiwan region," Lin stated on X. "This move grossly violates the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, infringes on China's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity."
Record Arms Deal Raises the Stakes
The State Department approved the record-breaking arms sale on Thursday, marking one of the largest weapons packages ever offered to Taiwan. The timing matters. Taiwan, a self-governed democratic island, faces mounting military pressure from mainland China, which views it as a breakaway territory that must eventually reunify with the mainland.
This approval creates yet another friction point in the increasingly contentious U.S.-China relationship. Tensions got a boost in December when President Donald Trump signed the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, which Beijing also criticized as violating the one-China principle.
Beijing Draws a Line in the Sand
The Chinese Embassy in Washington echoed the strong language, warning that the sale "sends a gravely wrong signal to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces." The embassy emphasized that Beijing's determination and ability to protect its territorial integrity should not be underestimated.
Both Lin and the Chinese Embassy made clear just how seriously Beijing takes this issue. They stated that Taiwan is "the core of China's core interests" and "the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations." It's worth noting that Taiwan is home to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM), the world's largest dedicated chip foundry, which produces semiconductors that power everything from smartphones to military hardware.
The Chinese Embassy previously described Taiwan as "the most important and sensitive issue" in U.S.-China relations back in August, highlighting the island's outsized geopolitical significance.
The arms sale comes as regional tensions continue to simmer. Just last week, U.S. B-52 bombers joined Japanese fighter jets for patrols in the Sea of Japan, responding to Chinese-Russian military exercises in the region.
