BEIJING, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- China on Saturday again expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, urging the U.S. to respect China's core interests and withdraw related arms sales plan.

    "The U.S. arms sales to Taiwan infringe upon China's security interest as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and interfere with China's internal affairs," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu in a statement.

    Jiang made the comments in response to a reporter's question on U.S. government approval for Raytheon Company to sell 1.1 billion U.S. dollars of Patriot antimissile system to Taiwan.

    "We have raised solemn representations to the U.S. side," said Jiang. "We urge the U.S. to stop arms sales to Taiwan to avoid undermining China-U.S. cooperation."

    Jiang said, "We urge the U.S. to clearly recognize the severe consequences of arms sales to Taiwan, reject the cold war mentality, and adhere to the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, especially the principles established in the Joint Communique on Aug. 17, 1982."

    The "Aug. 17 communique" stated that the U.S. would not seek to carry out a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan, and intended to gradually reduce arms sales.

    "We also persuade the Raytheon Company to stop pushing or participating in arms sales to Taiwan, and refrain from doing anything that harms China's sovereignty and security interest," Jiang said.