"China criticised the US on Thursday after Washington approved the largest arms sales package for Taiwan valued at $11.1 billion, warning the move would undermine regional stability and further strain already fragile US–China relations. Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the decision 'seriously damages peace and stability' across the Taiwan Strait. "The US is aiding 'independence' with military force, which will only backfire," he said. "Using Taiwan to contain China will absolutely not succeed." "It gravely undermines China's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, seriously damages peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and sends a seriously wrong signal to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces," he continued. The arms package, announced by the US State Department on Thursday, includes advanced military systems and support services intended to strengthen Taiwan's defensive capabilities amid rising tensions with China. The approval comes amid heightened military activity around Taiwan, including frequent Chinese air and naval patrols near the island. Last month, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te vowed to bolster the island's self-defense capabilities, aiming for a high level of combat readiness by 2027. He warned that China was seeking the ability to seize the island by 2027, citing an 'unprecedented military buildup' and intensifying Chinese activity in the Taiwan Strait and across the Indo-Pacific. US officials say the arms sales are intended to deter conflict, while Chinese officials argue they increase the risk of miscalculation."