Posted on 02/24/2010 10:10:22 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
China warned the U.S. on Thursday against any future arms sales to Taiwan and reaffirmed its decision to suspend military exchanges over Washington's decision last month to sell $6.4 billion in military hardware to the island.
China demands that the U.S. "speak and act cautiously" to avoid further damaging ties and upsetting relations between Beijing and Taiwan, Defense Ministry spokesman Huang Xueping was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency.
Huang also said there had been no change in Beijing's decision last month to put off military contacts in protest over the Obama administration's decision to sell $6.4 billion in helicopters, missiles and other weapons to Taiwan.
"The U.S. side bears full responsibility for the current difficulties in exchanges between the Chinese and U.S. militaries," Huang said.
Huang's comments follow the publication this week of a U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency report stating that Taiwan's air defenses against China were likely inadequate.
Many observers saw the study as justification for the possible sale of advanced fighter jets to the self-governing island democracy. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has vowed to conquer it by force if necessary.
China resents all U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, seeing them as interference in its internal affairs.
Taiwan's request for the relatively advanced F-16 fighters was left out of the arms deal announced late last month, although the administration says it is still under study. Taiwan wants to buy the C/D model of the plane, which is considered a substantial improvement over the A/B version it currently operates.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattlepi.com ...
Double the arms sale everytime China threatens a retaliation.
Please STOP buying Chinese products unless the product is needed and there is no other option!
Once upon a time (Clinton) they owned the president.
Now they own the whole friggin’ country.
Exactly
Sell Tibet an arms package too.
I doub’t that they take it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.