China warned that a $5.85 billion deal announced Wednesday to upgrade Taiwan's fleet of F16 fighter jets would damage Sino-US relations, calling on America to stop arms sales to the island.

Chinese vice foreign minister Zhang Zhijun was instructed to summon US ambassador to China Gary Locke and lodge a strong protest, China's official Xinhua news agency said.

"The wrongdoing by the US side will inevitably undermine bilateral relations as well as exchanges and cooperation in military and security areas," said Zhang.

"China strongly urges the United States to be fully aware of the high sensitivity and serious harm of the issue, seriously treat the solemn stance of China, honour its commitment and immediately cancel the wrong decision," he told Locke, according to Xinhua.

He asked the United States to stop arms sales and military relations with Taiwan and work with China to safeguard Sino-US relations and secure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Zhang Yesui, Chinese ambassador to the United States, also lodged a strong protest on behalf of the Chinese government in Washington, Xinhua said.

Shortly after an announcement in Taipei, the Pentagon said it had formally notified Congress of the deal that will include equipment, parts, training and logistical support.

The Pentagon announced the deal in three parts valued at $5.3 billion, $500 million and $50 million. The deal includes a retrofit of the island's F-16 A/B aircraft "which will greatly enhance the recipient's ability to defend its borders," a Pentagon statement said.

But it stopped short of selling new planes and is seen by some observers in Taiwan as a consolation prize.

China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, earlier this week warned Washington against helping Taiwan upgrade its air force.

Zhang Zhijun said the new arms deal violated a Sino-US agreement on reducing arms sales to Taiwan, interfered in China's internal affairs, undermined China's national security and damaged China's peaceful reunification.

"Facts have shown that the United States does not fulfill such a commitment in the communique. On the contrary, it sells arms to Taiwan time and again on various excuses," he added.

"The new round of US arms sales to Taiwan, no matter in what excuses and reasons, cannot hide its intention of interfering in China's internal affairs, will send very wrong signals to the 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces, and will severely disturb the momentum of peaceful development in cross-Strait relations," Zhang said.

Washington recognises Beijing rather than Taipei but remains a leading arms supplier to the island of 23 million inhabitants, providing a source of continued Sino-US tension.

Ties between China and Taiwan have improved since Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang party came to power in 2008 on promises of ramping up trade links and allowing in more Chinese tourists.

But Beijing has refused to renounce the use of force against Taiwan even though the island has ruled itself for more than six decades since their split in 1949 at the end of a civil war.

A commentary carried on Xinhua early Thursday said Beijing "seeks peaceful reunification of China and will never use forces against Taiwan as along as the island does not announce independence or seek to split from China."

"Be warned, China's unshakable determination to defend its sovereign and territorial integrity should not be underestimated, and in the long run, the final reunification of China is unstoppable, no matter what the US does or will do," it added.

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