Mainland criticizes US' 'air defense' sales to Taiwan

A mainland spokesman on Wednesday voiced strong opposition after the United States approved a sale of up to $95 million worth of training and equipment to Taiwan to boost its "air defense", calling for the US to stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks after the US State Department approved the sale to Taiwan of equipment, training and other items to support its Patriot Air Defense System on Tuesday.

Ma said the sale of arms by the US severely violated the one-China policy and the three China-US joint communiques, especially the August 17 Communique.

The US should immediately correct its actions, he said.

Ma said the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan have been colluding with foreign forces to seek "independence", with an attempt to resist reunification with the mainland by force.

"They have been spending the hard-earned money of Taiwan compatriots to buy weapons, which will only push them step-by-step into fire," he said.