BEIJING, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) will take decisive measures to resolutely defeat any separatist attempt for "Taiwan independence," said a Chinese defense spokesperson on Friday.

In response to a query concerning recent U.S. plans to sell arms to Taiwan, Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, said the PLA would continue to step up military training and improve combat preparedness.

"We urge the U.S. side to earnestly honor its commitment of not supporting 'Taiwan independence,' and stop arming Taiwan in any form," Zhang added.

Voicing strong dissatisfaction with and firm opposition to the plan, Zhang said it severely violates the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques.

He stressed that "Taiwan independence" is the most toxic tumor to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and the Taiwan question is the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations.

"The U.S. side has sent a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces for 'Taiwan independence,' which is gradually pushing Taiwan to the danger of a treacherous war, and escalating tensions over the Taiwan Strait," he noted.

The security of Taiwan depends on the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, Zhang stressed, adding that U.S.-made weapons are not a shield for the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan, but will rather hasten their own destruction. Enditem

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