China on Sunday voiced its strong dissatisfaction and resolute
opposition to the US tentative plans of arms sales to Taiwan and
urges the US to immediately cancel the plans.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said China firmly opposes
the US arms sales to Taiwan. "Our position is consistent and
clear," she said.
She said the US would seriously violate its commitments to China
made in the three Sino-US joint communiques, in particular the
joint communique signed between the two countries on August 17,
1982, if it sells P-3C antisubmarine aircraft and other advanced
weapons to Taiwan.
She said the arms sales to Taiwan also constitutes wanton
interference in China's internal affairs, noting the Chinese side
has expressed strong objection and lodged a solemn protest with the
US.
The US Department of Defense on Wednesday announced tentative
plans to sell 12 P-3C antisubmarine aircraft and 144 cruise
missiles to Taiwan.
The current situation across the Taiwan Straits is "very
complicated and sensitive," Jiang said, referring to Taiwan
authority's push for a referendum on UN membership in the name of
Taiwan.
Jiang urged the US to adhere to its solemn commitments on the
Taiwan issue with concrete actions, immediately cancel the
tentative plans of arms sales to Taiwan, stop selling weapons to
Taiwan, end its military links with Taiwan and stop sending any
wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces.
"China reserve the rights of further action," Jiang said.
(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2007)
