It asked that the US “take its concerns seriously” and “stop arming Taiwan.” This occurs just a few days before crucial elections in Taiwan that might move the island farther closer to Beijing or further away from it. Although Taiwan considers itself to be separate from the Chinese mainland, China claims the island as part of its own territory. “China expressed its willingness to develop healthy and stable military-to-military relations with the United States on the basis of equality and respect,” according to the readout from the defense ministry. Beijing will “not make any concession or compromise on the Taiwan question and demand that the US side honor the one-China principle, relevant commitments, stop arming Taiwan, and” other demands, it continued, adding that the US needed to take China’s concerns “seriously.”.