The photo shows Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, China's Taiwan. (Photo / VCG)

BEIJING — China on Friday urged the United States to stop arms sales to and military contact with China's Taiwan region and stop creating new factors that could lead to tensions across the Taiwan Straits.

"China will act firmly to defend its own sovereignty and security interests," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular press briefing when asked to comment on the US State Department's recent approval of arms sales to Taiwan.

China will act firmly to defend its own sovereignty and security interests

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He stressed China has always been firmly opposed to US arms sales to China's Taiwan region.

The planned US arms sales seriously violate the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, especially the August 17 Communique, said Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

In doing so, the United States connives with and supports the "Taiwan independence" forces and undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Zhu said.

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"We urge the United States to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, fulfill its commitment to not support 'Taiwan independence,' and cease arms sales to Taiwan and military contact with Taiwan," Zhu said. She added the United States should deal with the Taiwan question prudently.

Zhu also warned Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities that any attempt to resist reunification with military buildup or collusion with external forces to seek "Taiwan independence" is doomed to fail.