China opposes US arms sales to the Taiwan region or military ties in any form, the foreign ministry said on Friday in response to the arrival of Stinger missiles and arms worth $500 million to the island.

A light show illuminates the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan. (File photo: Xinhua)

The US side has seriously violated the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, especially the August 17 Communique issued in 1982 in which the US government stated that it does not seek to carry out a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning said at a routine press briefing in Beijing. "It has interfered in China's internal affairs and undermined China's sovereignty and security interests.

"We deplore and reject this move and have made serious démarches to the US side."

"We sternly warn the Democratic Progressive Party authorities and the Taiwan independence separatist forces that any attempt to seek independence by soliciting US support or by force will lead nowhere."

China firmly opposes any official or military exchanges between the US and Taiwan, Mao said.

“The US should stop creating tensions across the Taiwan Straits and stop condoning the separatist forces supporting Taiwan independence to seek independence with arms,” she said.