On January 8, Ambassador Yang Xiaokun published a signed article titled “U.S. $11.1 Billion Arms Sales to China’s Taiwan Region: A Dangerous Provocation Undermining Peace across the Taiwan Strait and the International Order” on Lesotho Times and Public eye. Here's the full text.

Recently, the U.S. government announced an arms sales package to China’s Taiwan region totaling 11.1 billion USD. It is another stark manifestation of the United States repeatedly crossing red lines on the Taiwan question. With the absurd and groundless pretext of so-called “security cooperation,” the U.S. has grossly violated the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, interfered in China’s internal affairs, undermined China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, disrupted peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and sent a seriously wrong message to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. The devastating consequences for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and for regional security are profound and far-reaching.

I. A Serious Violation of China’s Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity and a Challenge to the One-China Principle

There’s but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. The U.S.’s arms sales directly strikes at the Taiwan question, which is at the very core of China’s core interests. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, which is recognized by the international community and constitutes the political foundation of China–U.S. relations. The United States has continued to flood the Taiwan region with large-scale transfers of advanced and offensive weapons. This constitutes interference in China’s internal affairs and gravely undermines China’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.

On the one hand, the U.S. claims that “The U.S. understands how important the Taiwan question is to China.” On the other hand, it persistently strengthens the military capabilities of the Taiwan authorities through massive arms sales. This stark contradiction between rhetoric and action hollows out the one-China principle and shakes the long-standing political consensus of the international community.

II. An Open Reneging on Commitments and Serious Damage to International Credibility

The continued escalation of the U.S.’s arms sales to China’s Taiwan region, especially the said 11.1 billion USD package, constitutes a devastating breach of the solemn commitments the U.S. made at the time of establishing diplomatic relations with China and in subsequent joint communiqués.

The U.S. explicitly acknowledged that there is only one China, stated that it did not seek a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan, and committed to gradually reducing both the quantity and the quality of such sales. In the August 17 Communiqué released in 1982, the US unequivocally stated that “the United States Government states that it does not seek to carry out a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan, that its arms sales to Taiwan will not exceed, either in qualitative or in quantitative terms, the level of those supplied in recent years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China, and that it intends gradually to reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan, leading, over a period of time, to a final resolution. In so stating, the United States acknowledges China’s consistent position regarding the thorough settlement of this issue”. However, more than 40 years later, instead of ceasing the arms sales, the U.S. has sold weapons on a larger scale and with enhanced capacity.

It is the U.S. that reneged on its commitment. This practice of selectively interpreting commitments seriously erodes the basic principle of good faith that underpins international relations. A country that repeatedly goes back on its word on major matters of principle not only damages bilateral trust but also undermines its credibility globally. What the U.S.’s arms sales expose is not merely a lack of respect for China, but a broader disregard for international rules and for the U.S.’s own stated obligations.

III. Sending a seriously wrong message to “Taiwan Independence” separatist forces and Undermining Peace and Stability across the Taiwan Strait

This large-scale arms sale has, in effect, sent a seriously wrong message to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. It fosters dangerous illusions within the Taiwan authorities of “seeking U.S. support for their independence agenda” and “seeking Taiwan independence through military buildup.” Such external interference will push Taiwan toward a more unstable and dangerous situation.

Experience and facts have repeatedly shown that tensions across the Taiwan Strait originate from “Taiwan independence” separatist activities and interference by external forces. The leader of China’s Taiwan region Lai Ching-te is the real “troublemaker” for peace across the Taiwan Strait. The Taiwan authorities are turning Taiwan into a powder keg. Their massive and desperate arms purchase further reveal their true nature as provocateurs, saboteurs of peace and war-mongers. Anyone who tries to arm Taiwan to contain China will only embolden the separatists and push the Taiwan Strait closer to the peril of armed conflict.

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. Anyone who attempts to cross the line and make provocations on the Taiwan question will be met with China’s firm response. Any company or individual who engages in arms sales to Taiwan will pay the price for the wrongdoing. No country or force shall ever underestimate the resolve, will and ability of the Chinese government and people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Including Lesotho, 183 countries have established and developed diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle. Our Lesotho friends are called upon to understand the detrimental impact of the U.S.’s arms sales to China’s Taiwan region, remain alert to the destructive role of “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, and firmly support China’s position.