China’s largest naval deployment in years is reshaping the strategic picture across East Asia, with more than 100 warships and coast guard vessels operating from the Yellow Sea to the western Pacific in early December.

Beijing did not take the announcement well, saying the offer of the arms package "grossly violates the one-China principle," undermines stability in the region and "sends a gravely wrong signal to 'Taiwan independence' separatists forces.

China’s Foreign Ministry attacked the move, saying it would violate diplomatic agreements between China and the United States.

Taiwan's military can respond rapidly to any sudden Chinese attack with all units able to operate under a decentralised mode of command without awaiting orders from above, Taipei's defence ministry said in a report to lawmakers.

The Trump administration's announcement of plan to sell Taiwan a record $10 billion worth of weapons draws an angry response from China.

China warns that a massive $11.1 billion U.S. weapons sale to Taiwan could spark war, calling the island a "powder keg" amid rising tensions.

Weapons package underpins Taipei’s move towards an asymmetric ‘porcupine’ strategy as Washington presses allies to do more.

The United States and Japan’s vague, ahistorical version of the “one China” policy is inflaming tensions with Beijing.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday, December 18, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the $11.1 billion deal seriously threatens peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.