China sharply criticises US for plans to sell advanced weapons worth $11.1 bn to Taiwan

Beijing: China on Thursday sharply criticised the US for its plan to sell massive advanced weapons worth $11.1 billion to Taiwan, saying Washington’s move “grossly violates” the one-China principle and infringes on its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. US President Donald Trump has approved the arms package for Taiwan, which, if cleared by the US Congress, would mark Washington’s largest-ever arms sale to the island. The development comes amid Taipei’s concerns over a potential invasion by China, which claims the self-governing island as part of its mainland. Much on the expected lines, China sharply criticised the US, saying Washington “blatantly announced its plan to sell massive advanced weapons to China’s Taiwan region” and sends a “gravely wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces”.