China on Monday repeated its opposition to arms sales to Taiwan, following a media report that Taipei plans to buy four warships from the United States to modernise its aging fleet.

Taiwan's United Daily News said Sunday that the island was considering buying four Perry-class frigates built in the 1980s which are to be retired by the US navy.

"We oppose US arms sales to Taiwan. Our position is clear-cut and consistent," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told a regular news briefing.

China considers Taiwan to be its sovereign territory and has threatened to use military force if the island should move towards independence.

But sabre-rattling by Beijing has eased since President Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang party came to power in 2008 on a platform of beefing up trade links and allowing more Chinese tourists to visit.

Ma was re-elected for a second term in January.

Taiwan's defence ministry briefed Ma on the proposed deal during a meeting last month and is prepared to set aside the budget for the purchase next year, the United Daily News said.

If finalised, the deal would increase to 12 the total number of such warships owned by the Taiwanese navy, the daily said.

The United States recognises China rather than Taiwan, but remains a leading arms supplier to the island of 23 million inhabitants, providing a source of continued tension with Beijing.

China last year condemned a US deal valued at $5.85 billion to upgrade Taiwan's fleet of F-16 fighter jets by summoning the US ambassador and warning the move would undermine warming military relations.