China has expressed its displeasure with the US for the latter's sale of two naval frigates to Taiwan, in light of the tension surrounding the South China Sea.
Reuters reports that the US State Department has approved the $190 million sale, though it still requires approval from Congress.
China considers Taiwan to be one of its provinces, while the US treats it as an independent nation.
"The U.S. has said that right now it has no plans to sell weapons to Taiwan and has not issued any statements. China's position on U.S. arms sales to Taiwan is consistent, clear, and firm," said a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The State Department, however, claims that "the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region."