China condemns US arms sales to Taiwan, confirms countermeasure move

China's foreign ministry said on Wednesday (September 18) that it was strongly opposed to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and urged Washington to withdraw them immediately. The comments came after China announced steps against nine U.S. military-linked firms early in the day over U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan, freezing their property within China, in the latest move to put added pressure on the United States to halt its arms sales to the island. At a regular press briefing, ministry spokesperson Lin Jian urged the United States "to immediately stop the dangerous trend of arming Taiwan" and to "to stop conniving at and supporting Taiwan independence and stop undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait”. The steps taken against the firms, including Sierra Nevada Corporation and Stick Rudder Enterprises LLC, became effective on Wednesday and will freeze their property within China, according to a ministry statement. China has repeatedly called on the White House, an important international backer and arms supplier for democratically-governed Taiwan, to refrain from formal dealings with the island's leadership. (Production: Wang Shubing; Josh D. Arslan)