China demands US cancel planned missile sale to Taiwan - UPDATE 2 |
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Fri, 02 Mar 2007 13:07
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BEIJING (XFN-ASIA) - China demanded the United States scrap a planned sale of hundreds of missiles to Taiwan, warning the deal would harm regional stability and bilateral ties.'We solemnly demand the leader of the United States ... immediately cancel this weapons sale (and) avoid harming the peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits and Sino-US relations,' foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.'The Chinese side expresses its strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to this. We have raised solemn representations with the US side.'The US Department of Defense this week notified Congress that it plans to sell Taiwan 421 mln usd worth of missiles, which would help boost the island's defenses against mainland China.'The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region,' the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.Acquisition of 218 Advanced Medium Range air-to-air missiles and 235 Maverick missiles would help Taiwan 'modernize its armed forces and enhance its defense ability to counter air and ground threats,' it said.Qin said the sale would violate US commitments to a 'one-China policy,' which maintains that there is only one China, with Beijing as its capital.By selling weapons to Taiwan, Washington would also be violating its promise to gradually reduce sales to the island territory, he said.China considers Taiwan a part of its territory to be reunified by force if necessary.The US is committed to providing Taiwan with defensive weaponry in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act, a US law passed when it switched its political recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979.afp
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China demands US cancel planned missile sale to Taiwan - UPDATE 