China Responds To US Approval Of F-16 IRST Systems To Taiwan
China Responds To US Approval Of F-16 IRST Systems To Taiwan
China has been ramping up military activity around the island of Taiwan as of late, with 32 military aircraft and 9 PLA Navy vessels encircling the island today alone.
BEIJING - The Chinese military has responded to the approval from the United States for the sale of F-16 Infrared Search and Track (IRST) systems to Taiwan, saying that the sale "threatens the safety and wellbeing of Taiwan compatriots," and lodged "stern representations with the US side".
China has been ramping up military activity around the island of Taiwan as of late, with 32 military aircraft and 9 PLA Navy vessels encircling the island today alone.
A spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang said, "The US's planned arms sale to Taiwan threatens the safety and wellbeing of Taiwan compatriots and the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to that, and has lodged stern representations with the US side".
Chinese state media cited the spokesperson as saying that the sale "grossly interferes in China's internal affairs, and seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques". Especially, it said "the August 17 Communiqué of 1982".
What Is The One China Principle, And The Communiques China Refers To?
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