Defense law hampers China-US military ties: MOD
By Chen Lidan
People's Daily app
1534233630000

China’s National Defense Ministry protested the Taiwan-related US military budget law on Tuesday, saying the move ruins the atmosphere necessary for bolstering military ties, trust and cooperation between the two nations.

NDAA.jpg

US President Donald Trump holds s the “John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019” after signing it at Fort Drum, New York, on August 13, 2018. (Photo: VCG)

Beijing’s discontent came after US President Donald Trump signed a massive defense budget bill into law on Monday, which encourages the US military’s interactions with Taiwan. 

The island is an integral part of China and the law is meddling in China’s internal affairs, said the ministry in a statement. Describing Taiwan as the most sensitive and most important core issue of the ties, Beijing said it firmly opposes the official exchanges and military contacts in any form between Washington and Taiwan. 

Like statements released earlier in the day by ministries responsible for commerce and foreign affairs, the Defense Ministry stepped up the call, asking the US to uphold its commitments made to the Chinese government on the Taiwan question.