Beijing: China warned the US on Thursday against
any future arms sales to Taiwan and reaffirmed its decision to
suspend military exchanges over Washington's plan to sell USD
6.4 billion in military hardware to the island.
China demands that the US "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 helicopters,
missiles and other weapons to Taiwan.
"The US side bears full responsibility for the current
difficulties in exchanges between the Chinese and US
militaries," Huang said.
Huang's comments follow the publication this week of a US
Defence Intelligence Agency report stating that Taiwan's air
defences 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.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, February 25, 2010, 18:38