Beijing Threatens Retaliation Over Taiwan Arms Sale

China threatened on Thursday to retaliate against the latest US arms sale to Taiwan, as the island welcomed the weapons package but said it was not looking to get into an arms race with Beijing.

Responding the US approval of a potential US$1.8 billion arms sale, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said during a daily news briefing that such sales should stop.

The sales "seriously interfere with China's internal affairs, seriously damage China's sovereignty and security interests, send a seriously wrong signal to Taiwan independence forces, and severely damage China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," he said.

"China will make a legitimate and necessary response according to how the situation develops," Zhao added.

He did not give details, but China has sanctioned US companies in the past for selling weapons to Taiwan, though it is unclear what form they have taken.

The latest US arms package includes sensors, missiles and artillery, and further congressional notifications are expected for drones and land-based Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

Earlier in the day, Taiwan Defence Minister Yen De-fa thanked the United States and said the weapons were to help Taiwan improve their defensive capabilities to deal with the "enemy threat and new situation". (Reuters)