China complains about US arms deal with Taiwan

China rebuked Thursday the US decision to sell a heavyweight torpedo to the self-governing Taiwan, which Beijing sees as a renegade province.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a daily briefing that China had lodged "solemn" complaints to the US.

The deal came as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo launched a broad-scale attack against China for its handling of the new coronavirus pandemic.

Zhao derided Pompeo as "an extremely irresponsible politician" whose lies "have been bankrupt".

Late Wednesday, Trump wrote on Twitter that China's "massive disinformation campaign" is intended to help Joe Biden win the 2020 presidential election.

In response, Zhao reiterated China has been taking "an open, transparent and responsible attitude" when dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.