China's defense ministry express strong indignation over U.S. proposed arms sale to Taiwan

China's Defense Ministry on Saturday expressed strong indignation and firm objection to the U.S. government's decision to sell arms worth of about 6.5 billion U.S. dollars to Taiwan.

Hu Changming, Ministry of Defense spokesman, said the relations between the Chinese and U.S. militaries as a whole had enjoyed sound momentum of active growth in recent years, with smooth development in bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various areas and at various levels.

The U.S. decision to sell arms to Taiwan undoubtedly poisoned the good atmosphere of the military relations between the two nations, and caused serious disturbance to the exchanges between the two armed forces, Hu said.

The U.S. government on Friday notified the Congress about its plan to sell arms to Taiwan, including Patriot III anti-missile system, E-2T airborne early warning aircraft upgrade system, Apache helicopters, Javelin missiles, Harpoon submarine-launched missiles, and some airplane accessory parts, according to Hu.

This move severely violated the U.S. commitment to China on the Taiwan issue, violated the consensus between the top leaders of the two nations on Sino-U.S. constructive and cooperative relations, and violated the U.S. stances to support the peaceful development of cross Strait relations, Hu said.

This move also grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, endangered Chinese national security, and disturbed the relations between China and the United States and that between the two armed forces, he stressed.

The United States had made explicit promises to China on the Taiwan issue, which were written into the three joint communiques. The joint communique signed on Aug. 17, 1982 provided for a step-by-step solution of the issue of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, paving the way for the final solution of the issue. Hu said the fact proved that the United States had failed to keep its promise.

Hu urged the United States to recognize the situation, abide by the three China-U.S joint communiques, honor its commitment to China on the Taiwan issue, immediately cancel the proposed arms sale, so as to prevent further damage to the Sino-U.S. relations and the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

"We reserve the right for taking further measures," he said.

Source:Xinhua