China demands US stop arms sales to Taiwan

(Patria) – China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on the United States to halt a planned $2.2 billion arms sale to Taiwan, Reuters reports.

The US State Department approved on Monday the sale of M1A2T Abrams tanks, Stinger missiles, and additional equipment to Taiwan.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a briefing in Beijing that China 'opposes the move,' Reuters writes.

'The arms sale should not disrupt the military balance in the region,' the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency stated.

The US Congress has already been informed of the planned sale.

China opposes the sale because it considers Taiwan, which is otherwise independent, part of its territory that should be 'reunified' with China.