China firmly opposes the selling of weapons to Taiwan by the United States, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said at a regular press conference yesterday.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman invites questions from reporters. [file]

China has raised solemn representations to the United States many times about the issues concerning the arms sales, spokesman Qin Gang said.

"It would undermine national security and the reunification of China and harm Sino-US relations," Qin said when asked about the impact on China-US relations of a proposed US$11 billion arms sale from the United States to Taiwan.

Qin pointed out that the United States would severely violate the three Sino-US joint communiques, in particular the joint communique signed between the two countries on August 17, 1982, if the United States offers the arms package to Taiwan.

Qin insisted the American sale of weapons to Taiwan constitutes interference in China's domestic affairs and is encouragement to secessionists who wish to make Taiwan "independent." "China will never tolerate the sale of weapons to Taiwan by the United States," he said.

Editor: Yan