US arms deal with Taiwan has fallout in top military exchanges
Source: Agencies |
February 25, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA has postponed several high-level exchanges between United States and Chinese military leaders since Washington announced a US$6.4 billion arms package for Taiwan.
The Pentagon has sought to play down the tension over the arms sale, describing China's response so far as limited in scope, and US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he still planned to visit China later this year.
China has postponed visits to the US by the Chief of the General Staff the People's Liberation of Army, and one of its top regional military commanders, Pentagon officials said when asked about China's retaliatory action.
A planned visit to China by the commander of the US Pacific Command has also been deferred.
In addition to scaling back security relations, China said it would sanction US firms that sell weapons to Taiwan.
But Pentagon officials pointed to signs Beijing wanted to keep a lid on tensions, and a Chinese military expert quoted in a Hong Kong newspaper appeared to echo those views.
Earlier this month, China allowed a US aircraft carrier to berth in Hong Kong.
China has sometimes barred US navy ships from stopping at Hong Kong during times of tension, including in 2007, when the USS Kitty Hawk was denied entry.
Wang Xinjun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Military Sciences, a top institute of the People's Liberation Army, said Beijing's decision to allow the latest aircraft carrier visit showed China did not want tensions to spread.
"This move showed China has responded to the US provocations with reason and restraint," Wang told the Ta Kung Pao, a Chinese-language Hong Kong newspaper.
"Although China-US military ties are experiencing difficulties, and a breakthrough seems hard to find, we have reason to have confidence in the future of those ties," Wang said.
Tensions flared up again last week when US President Barack Obama held a low-key meeting at the White House with the Dalai Lama.
China accused the US of damaging ties but did not announce broader retaliation.
When asked what actions China had taken to curb military-to-military contacts, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said: "We haven't noticed anything significant."
The Pentagon has sought to play down the tension over the arms sale, describing China's response so far as limited in scope, and US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he still planned to visit China later this year.
China has postponed visits to the US by the Chief of the General Staff the People's Liberation of Army, and one of its top regional military commanders, Pentagon officials said when asked about China's retaliatory action.
A planned visit to China by the commander of the US Pacific Command has also been deferred.
In addition to scaling back security relations, China said it would sanction US firms that sell weapons to Taiwan.
But Pentagon officials pointed to signs Beijing wanted to keep a lid on tensions, and a Chinese military expert quoted in a Hong Kong newspaper appeared to echo those views.
Earlier this month, China allowed a US aircraft carrier to berth in Hong Kong.
China has sometimes barred US navy ships from stopping at Hong Kong during times of tension, including in 2007, when the USS Kitty Hawk was denied entry.
Wang Xinjun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Military Sciences, a top institute of the People's Liberation Army, said Beijing's decision to allow the latest aircraft carrier visit showed China did not want tensions to spread.
"This move showed China has responded to the US provocations with reason and restraint," Wang told the Ta Kung Pao, a Chinese-language Hong Kong newspaper.
"Although China-US military ties are experiencing difficulties, and a breakthrough seems hard to find, we have reason to have confidence in the future of those ties," Wang said.
Tensions flared up again last week when US President Barack Obama held a low-key meeting at the White House with the Dalai Lama.
China accused the US of damaging ties but did not announce broader retaliation.
When asked what actions China had taken to curb military-to-military contacts, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said: "We haven't noticed anything significant."
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