Arms trade

CHINA'S MILITARY WILL 'DEFEAT' U.S. PLANS TO SELL WEAPONS TO TAIWAN

China has warned it will use military action to thwart any attempts to support the sovereignty of Taiwan, especially through U.S. weapons sales to the self-ruled island nation.

The Chinese Ministry of Defense blasted the State Department's recent decision to grant U.S. firms the marketing license to sell Taiwan technology necessary for building submarines. The move came at a tense time for U.S.-Chinese relations as President Donald Trump slapped new tariffs on his economic rival, prompting Beijing to do the same. Both sides warned of a potential trade war.

"China firmly opposes the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, this is clear-cut and consistent. Taiwan is a part of China. One-China principle serves as the political foundation for the China-U.S. ties," ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Wu Qian said, according to the official China Military Online.