China tells US to revoke arms sale
Print Edition
CHINA’S defense ministry yesterday expressed strong opposition to the US government’s authorization of a billion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan and urged that it be revoked.
On Wednesday, the US State Department notified Congress of a US$1.83 billion deal to sell two Perry-class guided-missile frigates, anti-tank missiles, AAV-7 amphibious assault vehicles, Stinger surface-to-air missiles and other military equipment to Taiwan.
“The United States’ wrongdoing of selling arms to Taiwan will inevitably harm China-US military relations,” said ministry spokesman Yang Yujun in a press release.
He said the US had violated three China-US joint communiques, particularly a commitment in 1982 when the US promised to gradually reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan and eventually stop selling it weapons.
Yang said the US action “brutally” interfered with China’s internal affairs, “sabotaged” China’s sovereignty and security interests, and “damaged the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.”
The Chinese armed forces’ position on safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity is resolute and clear, he said.
“We strongly urge the US government to abide by the three China-US joint communiques, honor its commitment to China on the Taiwan issue, cancel the announced arms sale to Taiwan, stop arms sales to Taiwan and cut US-Taiwan military ties, thus preventing further damage to China-US military ties and overall relations,” he said.
The sale comes at a period of heightened tension between the US and China over the South China Sea, where Washington has been critical of China’s building of man-made islands.
David McKeeby, a State Department spokesman, said the arms package included US$57 million of Javelin anti-tank missiles made by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin; US$268 million of TOW 2B anti-tank missiles and US$217 million of Stinger surface-to-air missiles made by Raytheon, and US$375 million of amphibious assault vehicles, Reuters reported.
The State Department said the guided-missile frigates were being offered as surplus items at a cost of US$190 million. The package also includes US$416 million of guns, upgrade kits, ammunition and support for Raytheon’s Close-in Weapons System.
Analysts and congressional sources believe the delay in the formal approval of the sale was due to the Obama administration’s desire to maintain stable working relations with China, according to Reuters.
China’s Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang summoned Kaye Lee, charge d’affaires of the US embassy in China, after Wednesday’s announcement.
“Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. China strongly opposes the US arms sale to Taiwan,” Zheng said.
He said the sale went against international law and the basic norms of international relations, against the principles in the three China-US joint communiques, and harmed China’s sovereignty and security interests.
“To safeguard our national interests, China has decided to take necessary measures, including imposing sanctions against the companies involved in the arms sale,” Zheng said.
“US companies participating in arms sales to Taiwan gravely harm China’s sovereignty and security interests,” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
“China’s government and companies will not carry out cooperation and commercial dealings with these types of companies.”
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