U.S. attempt of arming Taiwan will only backfire: spokeswoman

What the U.S. has done to assist 'Taiwan independence' by arming the region will only backfire, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Friday, when briefing the media on China's decision to take countermeasures against seven U.S. military industry companies and their relevant senior executives for continued U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

According to a statement posted at the official website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the seven U.S. military industry companies are Insitu, Inc., Hudson Technologies Co., Saronic Technologies, Inc., Raytheon Canada, Raytheon Australia, Aerkomm Inc. and Oceaneering International, Inc.

"Recently, the U.S. announced another line of substantial military assistance and arms sales to China's Taiwan region. Its 'National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025' includes multiple negative sections on China. These seriously violate the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. Joint Communiques, interfere in China's internal affairs, and undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Pursuant to articles the Law of the People's Republic of China on Countering Foreign Sanctions, China hereby decides to take countermeasures against seven U.S. military industry companies and their relevant senior executives," said Mao Ning, the spokeswoman, at a regular press briefing in Beijing.

"'Taiwan independence' leads nowhere. What the U.S. has done to assist 'Taiwan independence' by arming the region will only backfire, and the U.S. will become the victim of its own evil deeds. The China-related contents in the Act are filled with Cold War zero-sum mentality and ideological bias. It distorts the facts to hype up the 'China threat' rhetoric, preaches U.S. military support to Taiwan, finds pretext for increasing U.S. military spending and maintaining U.S. hegemony, which jeopardizes regional peace and stability," Mao said.

"We urge the U.S. to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. Joint Communiqués especially the August 17 Communique of 1982, stop arming the Taiwan region in any form, view China's development and China-U.S. relations objectively and rationally, refrain from implementing any negative China-related content of the Act and cease words and deeds that harm China's interests. China will take all measures necessary and act firmly to defend the country's sovereignty and security interests," she said.

The three China-U.S. Joint Communiques, namely the 1972 communique (the Shanghai communique), the 1979 communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations, and the 1982 communique, provide a crucial basis for the development of China-U.S. relations.

In particular, the August 17, 1982 communique focuses on a step-by-step approach with the ultimate aim of resolving the issue of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. The United States declares that its arms sales to Taiwan would not exceed, either in qualitative or in quantitative terms, the level of those supplied in the years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China, and that it intended to reduce gradually its sales of arms to Taiwan, leading over a period of time to a final resolution.

In all three communiques the United States emphasize its acceptance of the one-China principle, which provided political basis for healthy development of China-U.S. relations.

U.S. attempt of arming Taiwan will only backfire: spokeswoman

Governments at all levels across China are promoting consumer goods trade-ins and industrial equipment upgrade with preferential policies and subsidies, bringing about significant growth in home appliance sales and equipment production. So far this year, the trade-in policies have brought a total sale of one trillion yuan (about 137 billion U.S. dollars) nationwide, and boosted production of trade-in-related goods like new energy vehicles (NEVs) and home-use freezers.

In Shanghai, in addition to the eight categories of nationwide subsidized products, like refrigerators, television sets, and computers, the local government introduced extra subsidies for additional home appliances, as well as interior materials, furniture, elderly-friendly products, and more to meet local needs.

According to statistics, Shanghai's trade-ins of home appliances have exceeded 6.4 million times, boosting trade of the eight categories by 30 to 40 percent compared to last year's statistics, and the total sales of home appliances on all platforms exceeded 10 billion yuan (about 1.37 billion U.S. dollars).

In central China's Hubei Province, the local government is providing subsidies unlimited times for passenger vehicles trade-ins, expanding subsidized kitchen and bathroom appliances, and involving interior goods and materials to the list, benefiting consumers in over 4.5 million transactions and bringing a total sale of 50 billion yuan (about 6.8 billion U.S. dollars).

In the first three quarters, industrial equipment upgrade policies have stimulated investments in equipment and tools, featuring a 16.4 percent year-on-year increase, with food manufacturing, agricultural products processing, and metal smelting equipment production increasing by 38.1 percent, 34.6 percent, and 13.2 percent, respectively.

In addition to consumer goods, governments at all levels have been actively offering allowances and providing guidance for companies to upgrade appliances and technologies to facilitate domestic consumption "We have applied for nearly 50 million yuan (about 6.8 million U.S. dollars) funding for equipment upgrades. With active advertising and mobilization, we encouraged local advantageous companies in machinery and medicine and health to apply, and provide guidance for them on company digitalization and technology upgrade," said Yu Biao, deputy director of the Development and Reform Bureau of Xinchang County in Shaoxing City of east China's Zhejiang Province.

Companies are also benefiting from the policy, and many are pursuing expansion with government allowances.

"We have benefited from the 'one-time pre-tax deduction policy for equipment and tools under 5 million yuan (about 680,000 U.S. dollars)' and reinvested additional funds for the Phase II expansion. As a result, the annual processing capacity has increased from 80,000 tonnes to 130,000 tonnes," said Tang Kaibo, general manager of Liaoning Lvyuan Renewable Energy Development Co., Ltd.

Local governments promote trade-ins, equipment upgrade with policies, subsidies