China today warned against any new US arms transfers to Taiwan, a day after an Obama administration official said Washington was weighing fresh sales to the disputed island, including submarines.
"We are firmly opposed to US arms sales to Taiwan," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular briefing.
"Our position is consistent in this regard," she said, adding that communiques issued before by the two countries established that the United States should not sell weapons to Taiwan.
US president Barack Obama's administration is moving toward possible new arms sales to Taiwan, including design work on diesel-electric submarines, Robert Kovac, acting deputy assistant secretary of state for defence trade said.
New submarines could help challenge any Chinese seaborne assault on the island, which Beijing reserves the right to take by force if it formally declares independence.
Since taking office Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou has eased tension with China by brokering negotiations on trade deals, the next round of which are scheduled to take place in the central Taiwan city of Taichung later in December.
Reuters