China urges US to withdraw arms sales to Taiwan

Taiwan has always been the sour point in the US-China ties for which Beijing has asked Washington to withdraw the arms sale to the island nation.

Beijing:The Chinese government has asked the US government to withdraw a $2.2 billion arms sales to Taiwan. The move came after Trump's administration approved the sale of 108 Abrams tanks, 250 Stinger missiles and related equipment.

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said that the sale would not alter the basic military balance in the region and that it has notified Congress of the move.

Meanwhile, the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry has expressed gratitude for Washington's support in the face of growing intimidation from China.

The main reason behind China's objection is that it considers Taiwan as its own territory and wants it to reunite with the mainland.

Last month, China's Foreign Ministry had urged the US to halt the sale, calling it an extremely sensitive and damaging decision.

The island nation has always been the sour point in Washington-Beijing ties and became even more contentious after US President came to power.

After taking office in 2016, Trump spoke to Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen by phone, breaking an almost four-decade protocol that rattled China.

Even if the US severed its diplomatic channels with Taiwan in 1979 and established ties with China, it is bound by law to sell arms to Taipei for its defence.