Global Times: Foreign media reported that the U.S.’s large-scale arms sales to Taiwan announced yesterday were to “assist Taiwan in maintaining sufficient self-defence capabilities, commensurate with the threat it faces.” What is China’s comment?

Guo Jiakun: We’ve stated China’s serious position on this issue yesterday. The U.S.’s massive arms sales to China’s Taiwan region grossly interfere in China’s internal affairs, undermine China’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, disrupt peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and send a seriously wrong message to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and others. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this, and has immediately lodged serious protests with the U.S. side.

Let me stress that China’s core interests must not be eroded, the Taiwan question must not be interfered in, and China’s bottom line must not be crossed. “Taiwan independence” and cross-Strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water. Any move of arming Taiwan will face serious consequences. The real threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the separatist activities of the Lai Ching-te authorities and external interference. The so-called “assistance in response to threat” to Taiwan will only embolden “Taiwan independence” separatists, put the people in Taiwan on a “powder keg,” push the Taiwan Strait towards danger, and inevitably increase the risk of China-U.S. conflict and confrontation.

No one or force should underestimate the strong will and capability of the Chinese government and people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. No matter how many advanced weapons are sold to Taiwan, this will not reverse the inevitability towards China’s reunification. China will take all measures necessary to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. We urge the U.S. to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, act on the serious commitments made by U.S. leaders, stop the dangerous move of arming Taiwan, stop disrupting peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and stop sending wrong messages to“Taiwan independence”separatist forces.