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A Taiwanese destroyer from Lafayette purchased in France (Image: CNA)
“We have expressed serious concern for France,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said today at a press conference. “Once again, we urge the French side to abide by the One China principle and withdraw our arms sales to Taiwan to avoid stabilizing our bilateral relations.”
China has always considered Taiwan as part of its territory and this principle must be followed by any country with diplomatic relations with Beijing. Any arms sale to Taiwan is particularly sensitive and often finds angry responses from Beijing.
Taiwan buys heavily American-made weapons. But France sold six destroyers to Taiwan in 1991 and 60 Mirage fighters in 1992.
Last month, Taiwan said it wanted to buy equipment from France to upgrade destroyer missile interception systems.
Taiwan media reported that the deal was worth more than NT $ 800 million (US $ 26.8 million) for the purchase of Dagaie MK2 bait launchers from a subsidiary of the French DCI Group.
A source close to this problem revealed to AFP that the National Defense Agency of Taiwan has a contract to modernize six French frigates.
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