France on Wednesday batted away criticism by China over a weapons deal with Taiwan, saying everyone's focus at this time should be on fighting the coronavirus epidemic.

The foreign ministry stressed that under a 1994 agreement that re-established ties with Beijing, France respected the so-called one-China policy recognising Taiwan as part of China.

"In this context, France strictly respects the contractual agreements that it formed with Taiwan and nothing has changed in its position since 1994," a ministry statement said.

"Faced with the COVID-19 crisis, all our attention and all our efforts should be focused on the fight against the pandemic," it added.

China called on France on Tuesday to cancel a weapons contract with Taiwan, warning the deal with the self-ruled island could harm diplomatic relations between Paris and Beijing.

Taiwan's navy said last month it would upgrade the 25-year-old missile interference system of French-built Lafayette frigates, whose sale three decades ago had raised diplomatic tensions.

Taiwanese media said the deal was worth over Tw$800 million ($26.8 million) to buy the Dagaie MK2 decoy launcher from a unit of French group DCI.

A source close to the matter told AFP the Taiwanese defence ministry has a contract to modernise its six French-made frigates.

"China has expressed deep concern to France," the foreign ministry in Beijing told AFP.

"We oppose all weapons sales or military and security exchanges with the Taiwan region," it said.

"We urge France to cancel this planned weapons sale to Taiwan in order to avoid harming Sino-French relations."

France sold the six frigates to Taiwan for $2.8 billion in 1991 causing a freeze in diplomatic relations that officially ended in 1994.

Beijing still claims the self-governing island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary, even though the two sides have been ruled separately for more than seven decades.

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