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China responded by saying it would impose sanctions on US firms involved in such a deal.

China would make its greatest effort for peaceful reunification, defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said.

READ: China eyes high-tech army, says US undermines global stability

"However, we must firmly point out that seeking Taiwan independence is a dead end," Wu told a news briefing on a national defence white paper, the first in several years to outline the military's strategic concerns.

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"If there are people who dare to try to split Taiwan from the country, China's military will be ready to go to war to firmly safeguard national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity," he said.

The United States is the main arms supplier to Taiwan, which China deems a wayward province. Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

Was.h.i.+ngton has no formal ties with democratic Taiwan, but is bound by law to help provide it with the means to defend itself.

READ: US says Taiwan arms sale seeks to promote peace

The Chinese ministry said the United States had "provoked intensified compet.i.tion among major countries, significantly increased its defence expenditure ... and undermined global strategic stability."

China's defence spending would maintain moderate and steady growth, but it was relatively low, compared to other major countries, it added.

"There is still a wide gap between China's defence expenditure and the requirements for safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests," it said.

READ: China to impose sanctions on US firms in Taiwan arms sale

Reports of a secret pact with Cambodia granting China's armed forces exclusive access to part of the southeast Asian nation's Ream Naval Base on the Gulf of Thailand were not in accordance with the facts, Wu added.

"China and Cambodia have in the past carried out positive exchanges and cooperation on military drills, personnel training and logistics," he said. "This kind of cooperation does not target any third party." 

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said later in a statement that Beijing's "provocative behaviour ... seriously violated the peace principle in international laws and relations, challenging regional safety and order".

"We urge Beijing authorities to renounce irrational, malicious acts such as the use of force, and to improve cross-strait relations and handle issues including Hong Kong rationally, so that it can be a responsible regional member," it said. 

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/chinwarns-war-taiwan-independence-defence-ministry-11749374

The company said that travel time on the normally packed line could be 10-15 minutes longer than usual.

Broadcaster TVB later reported that train services went back to normal at 9.15am.

Protesters who have been campaigning for weeks against Chief Executive Carrie Lam's bid to ease extraditions to mainland China had said they planned to interrupt the morning service.

The move came after dozens of protesters and other pa.s.sengers were injured on Sunday when mobs of stick-wielding men attacked them at a train station in the northern suburb of Yuen Long.

Some protesters on Wednesday wore surgical masks to hide their ident.i.ties and were seen on platforms at Admiralty station at around 8.15am shouting at police officers as commuters stood in long lines to board trains.

Some protesters were seen blocking the train doors from closing, reported public broadcaster RTHK.