US arms sales to Taiwan will not stop China's reunification cause: spokeswoman

The continued arms sales to the Taiwan region by the United States will not stop the inevitable historical trend of China's national reunification, said a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman on Friday.

Spokeswoman Mao Ning, made the remarks at a regular press briefing in Beijing as China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on its official website on Friday the Decision on Taking Countermeasures Against U.S. Military Companies and Senior Executives, which lists three U.S. military-industrial enterprises and 10 executives of these enterprises or related businesses.

"China has always firmly opposed the sale of weapons by the United States to China's Taiwan region. Recently, the United States has once again provided large amounts of weapons assistance to Taiwan, which seriously violated the one-China principle and the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, especially the August 17 Communique, seriously interfered in China's internal affairs, and seriously undermined China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the People's Republic of China, China has taken countermeasures against the U.S. military enterprises and senior executives involved," said Mao.

"I want to emphasize that the 'Taiwan independence' forces and the peace across the Taiwan Strait cannot coexist. The Lai Ching-te administration's attempt to 'resist reunification by force' is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. No matter how many weapons it buys, it cannot stop the historical trend of China's inevitable reunification. The U.S. insistence on 'using force to support Taiwan independence' will only push Taiwan into a dangerous situation of war. No matter how many weapons the U.S. sells to Taiwan, it will not shake our firm determination to oppose 'Taiwan independence' and defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations. We urge the United States to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, stop arming Taiwan in any forms, and stop condoning and supporting 'Taiwan independence' forces. China will continue to take firm and forceful measures to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity," said Mao.

US arms sales to Taiwan will not stop China's reunification cause: spokeswoman

US arms sales to Taiwan will not stop China's reunification cause: spokeswoman

China urged the European Union (EU) to be clearly aware of the harm of imposing additional tariffs, as it will not solve any problems, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday.

European Council President Charles Michel said on Friday at the ASEAN summit that China must adapt its behavior to solve the escalating trade row with Europe.

When asked to respond to Michel's statements, Mao said that on the economic and trade disputes between China and the EU, China made clear its position more than once.

"The EU needs to see clearly that higher tariffs solve no problem and will only undermine the EU’s business environment, weaken Chinese companies’ confidence in investment and cooperation in Europe, reduce the competitiveness of the EU’s relevant industry, and destabilize global industrial and supply chains. This will backfire and do no one good. We urge the EU to take concrete actions and work with China to find solutions through consultation and avoid further escalation of the trade frictions," she said.

EU needs to see clearly higher tariffs solve no problem: spokeswoman