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Taiwan
ChinaDiplomacy

Beijing urges France to cancel contract to sell arms to Taiwan

  • Chinese foreign ministry warns of damage to bilateral relations
  • Deal includes upgrade of French-made weapons sold to the island in 1991 against Beijing’s wishes

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Taiwan’s French-built La Fayette frigates are to receive an upgrade. Photo: Handout
Kristin Huang
China has called on France to cancel a weapons contract with Taiwan, warning that the deal with the self-ruled island could harm diplomatic relations between Beijing and Paris.

“We stand against foreign arms sales to Taiwan or having military and security exchanges with the island, and this stance is consistent and clear,” Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said.

“China has expressed grave concerns to France. We once again urge France to abide by the one-China principle, cancel its plan to sell arms to Taiwan, and avoid damaging Sino-French relations.”

The one-China principle is a policy advocated by Beijing stating that there is only one sovereign state under the name of China and both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan – whose official name remains the Republic of China – belong to one country.

According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence, the island plans to upgrade the missile interference systems of the six French-built La Fayette frigates it bought about 30 years ago, which plunged ties between China and France to a historic low.

The defence ministry said it had earmarked US$27.8 million for the acquisition of Dagaie Mk 2 decoy launcher upgrade kits and ammunition from France.

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