China's Defense Ministry on Monday warned the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in the Taiwan region that United States weapons cannot save them and soliciting external support for "Taiwan independence" will only fail.

Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, a spokesman for the ministry, made the remarks in response to media reports claiming that the US is transporting a new batch of M1A2 tanks to Taiwan and plans to increase its arms sales to Taiwan over the next four years.

In addition, the retired US Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery said on May 15 during congressional testimony that there are about 500 US military personnel stationed in Taiwan, according to the South China Morning Post. The number vastly exceeds the previously known 41 personnel that were confirmed in a US congressional report a year earlier.

Jiang said those reports are another solid piece of evidence that the US side and the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces are taking efforts to violate China's core interests, change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and escalate regional tensions.

"Who is making provocations despite strong opposition from the Chinese side? Who is undermining cross-Strait stability and repeatedly stirring up troubles?" he posed two questions.

"I'm sure everyone will see this clearly," he said, noting that the Chinese side is strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposed to the US actions.

The Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests, and is the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations, the spokesman said.

"We urge the US side to stop its military collusion with Taiwan in any form; otherwise, it will get burned for playing with fire and gain more harm than good," he said.

Jiang also warned the DPP authorities that US weapons cannot save them, and relying on external forces for "Taiwan independence" will doom them to fail.

"The People's Liberation Army will continue to strengthen military training and combat readiness and enhance its capability to fight and win," he stressed. "We will take resolute measures to thwart 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities and external interference".