A mainland spokeswoman said on Sunday that the Chinese mainland will take resolute measures to firmly defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. She expressed strong opposition to the latest round of United States arms sales to Taiwan.

The Democratic Progressive Party authorities recently expressed gratitude after the White House announced military assistance worth $571.3 million to Taiwan, and the US Department of Defense announced that the State Department had approved $295 million worth of arms sales to the region.

Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said that the move seriously violates the one-China principle and the three Sino-US joint communiques, especially the August 17 Communique of 1982, going against the solemn commitment of the US leaders not to support "Taiwan independence" and sending a serious wrong signal to separatist forces.

Zhu said that "Taiwan independence" activities and foreign interference pose the biggest threat to peace in the Taiwan Strait.

She urged the US immediately to cease arming Taiwan and handle the Taiwan question with caution.

?