China warns against US-Taiwan military ties ahead of Trump-Xi talks

Zhang Han, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday that Beijing "firmly opposes" any form of military cooperation between Washington and Taipei. He reiterated that the self-ruled island is an internal affair that brooks no external interference, according to state-run Global Times.

"The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair and brooks no external interference," Zhang told the outlet, adding that Beijing urges Washington to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués. He said the US must stop arms sales to Taiwan and refrain from sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces on the island.

Trump expected to raise arms sales in Beijing

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he plans to discuss arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his expected visit to Beijing. The comments from Chinese officials came after reports that US officials expressed dissatisfaction with Taiwan's defense procurement budget amid continued tensions over military cooperation between Washington and Taipei.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun also reiterated Beijing's opposition on Tuesday, stating that China's firm opposition to US arms sales to the self-ruled island remains "consistent and clear." According to The New York Times, a bipartisan group of US senators has urged Trump to move forward with a delayed $14 billion weapons package for Taiwan that has been stalled at the State Department for months.