Even as the first batch of M1A2T Abrams tanks arrived in Taiwan from the US, China warned that the weaponry from America is "nothing but easy targets on the battlefields."
China claims the stringed island of Taiwan as part of its mainland.
The arrival of M1A2T, a specialised version of the M1 Abrams, tailored to suit Taiwan's defence needs, is set to boost the country's military capabilities amid rising tensions with China. This was the first time in 23 years that Taiwan received tanks from the US.
According to Taiwan's ministry of national defense, its armed forces will receive 38 M1A2T tanks this year, 42 next year, and 28 in 2026.
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China urged the US to abide by the one-China principle and stop arming Taiwan.
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang asked the US to stop its dangerous moves that undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, according to Global Times.
“The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will comprehensively improve its combat readiness, enhance its capability to fight and win, and firmly smash any ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist plot and foreign interference,” he said.
He claimed that the Taiwan question is purely China's internal matter and no external force will be allowed to interfere. Zhang said the PLA is confident and capable of thwarting all such external influence.