BEIJING — China on May 21 criticized a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives last week requiring the United States to sell 66 new fighter jets to Taiwan, describing the measure as interference by Washington.
The Republican-controlled lower house of Congress pushed through the vote on May 18, forcing Democratic President Barack Obama’s administration to authorize the sale of the F-16 jets, with lawmakers saying the deal would close a growing military gap with China.
Reacting to the vote, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the decision “constitutes a grave interference in China’s internal affairs.”
Although China and Taiwan have been separated since the end of a civil war in 1949, Beijing still considers the island part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring about reunification.
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