China said on Friday it had lodged a protest with the United States after President Barack Obama signed into law legislation authorising the sale of up to four Perry-class guided missile frigates to Taiwan.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said the Taiwan issue was one of Beijing's core interests and remained the most important and most sensitive issue in Sino-U.S. ties.
"China firmly opposes the arms sale to Taiwan by the U.S. This position is resolute, clear and consistent," Qin told a daily news briefing. "It is a crude interference of China's internal affairs, damages China's sovereignty and security interests and goes against the trend of peaceful development in cross-strait relations.