( CNN ) -- China is continuing to speak out against a multibillion-dollar U.S. arms sale to Taiwan , with the Chinese foreign minister telling U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Monday that the Obama administration should reconsider the deal . Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with Clinton in New York , where the United Nations General Assembly is in session , according to a senior State Department official who spoke on background . Yang `` was making very serious representations to Secretary Clinton , asked the Obama administration to reconsider this decision and indicated that it would harm the trust and confidence that was established between the two sides , '' the official said . Chinese officials `` have indicated that they 're going to suspend or to cancel or postpone a series of ... military-to-military engagements , '' the official said . Clinton `` responded very clearly '' that the United States has a strategic interest in stability in the region , and that the Taiwan Relations Act `` provides for a strong rationale for the provision of defensive capabilities and weapons to Taiwan as part of a larger context to preserve that peace and stability , '' the official said . Clinton also told Yang that the United States supports improved relations between mainland China and Taiwan . The $ 5.3 billion arms package includes upgrades to Taiwan 's F-16 fighter fleet , a five-year extension of F-16 pilot training at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona and spare parts for the upkeep of three different planes currently in use by the Taiwanese , according to the State Department . The deal is part of the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program . China voiced strong opposition to the deal when it was announced last week , with the state-run Xinhua news agency quoting China 's vice foreign minister , Zhang Zhijun , as saying , `` The wrongdoing by the U.S. side will inevitably undermine bilateral relations as well as exchanges and cooperation in military and security areas . '' China regards Taiwan as a renegade province . Taiwan began as the remnant of the government that ruled over mainland China , until a Communist uprising proved victorious in 1949 . The Taiwan Strait separates the mainland from the island . In 1979 , the United States carried out its `` one China '' policy by switching diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing . But the Taiwan Relations Act obligates the United States to help defend the island if needed . The United States also is Taiwan 's main arms supplier . Beijing broke off military contacts with Washington last year to protest another arms sale to Taiwan . The sale included more than $ 6 billion in Patriot missiles , Black Hawk helicopters and communications equipment , which Taiwan said it needed for self-defense .
Communist Foreign Minister Yang meets with Secretary of State Clinton in New York . Clinton calls on the Taiwan to reconsider an arms sale to Taiwan . The $ 5.3 billion package includes upgrades to New York 's F-16 fighers . China voiced strong opposition to the deal when it was announced last week .