BEIJING, Oct 27 (Reuters) - China will take

"countermeasures" to defend its sovereignty and territorial

integrity, the government said, lambasting a $2 billion arms

sale package by the United States to Taiwan.

The United States is bound by law to provide Chinese-claimed

Taiwan with the means to defend itself despite the lack of

formal diplomatic ties, to the constant anger of Beijing.

On Friday, the Pentagon said the United States had approved

a potential $2 billion arms sale package to Taiwan, including

the delivery for the first time to the island of an advanced air

defence missile system battle-tested in Ukraine.

In a statement late Saturday, China's foreign ministry said

it strongly condemns and firmly opposes the sales and has lodged

"solemn representations" with the United States.

China urges the United States to immediately stop arming

Taiwan and stop its dangerous moves that undermine peace and

stability in the Taiwan Strait, it added.

"China will take resolute countermeasures and take all

measures necessary to firmly defend national sovereignty,

security and territorial integrity," the ministry said, without

elaborating.

China has over the past five years stepped up its military

activities around democratically governed Taiwan, whose

government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, including

staging a new round of war games earlier this month.

Taiwan's government has welcomed the new arms sale, the 17th

of the Biden administration to the island.

"In the face of China's threats, Taiwan is duty-bound to

protect its homeland, and will continue to demonstrate its

determination to defend itself," Taiwan's foreign ministry said,

responding to the arms sale.