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BEIJING - China on Saturday denounced proposed US arms sales to Taiwan worth 6.5 billion dollars, according to state media, warning "there is only one China in the world, and that Taiwan is a part of China."
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said the government and people firmly opposed the move, which would seriously damage China's interests and Sino-US relations.
Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei has summoned the charge d'affaires of the US Embassy to protest the US move, according to a spokesman, the state Xinhua news agency said.
The Pentagon notified Congress Friday of 6.5 billion dollars in possible arms sales to Taiwan that would include advanced interceptor missiles, Apache attack helicopters and submarine-launched missiles.
The Defence Security and Cooperation Agency said the proposed sales were aimed at improving Taiwan's defences and would not alter the basic military balance in the region.
But Liu said China firmly opposed arms sales by the United States to Taiwan, according to the Xinhua report.
The proposed deal violated the principles set in three joint communiques between China and the United States, Liu said.
It would grossly interfere in China's internal affairs, endanger national security and disturb the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, he added.
"It is only natural that this move would stir up strong indignation of the Chinese government and people," he said, according to Xinhua.
"We sternly warn the United States that there is only one China in the world, and that Taiwan is a part of China," Liu said.
He called on the United States to cancel the proposed arms sale and end military links with Taiwan.
If the proposed deal went ahead, it would end a year-long lull in US arms sales to Taipei, which has enjoyed improved relations with China since President Ma Ying-jeou was elected earlier this year on a platform of easing tensions with the mainland.
"All foreign military sales are discussed and approved (based on) long established inter-agency procedure, and we only recently finished that procedure with regard to these notifications for Taiwan," a State Department official said.
Taiwanese President Ma on Saturday thanked Washington for the planned deal with the island, while reiterating his pledge to improve ties with rival China.
"President Ma Ying-jeou would like to thank the US government.... He is committed to upholding national sovereignty and security while promoting cross-strait peaceful developments," said presidential spokesman Wang Yu-chi.
"This also shows that Taiwan and the US have entered an era of mutual trust and the discord in the past eight years is over," Wang said.
The proposed sales would involve 330 Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) missiles worth up to 3.1 billion dollars and 30 AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters worth 2.5 billion dollars.
Taiwan has asked to buy 31 UGM-84L submarine launched Harpoon anti-ship missiles valued at up to 200 million dollars.
It also requested 182 Javelin guided missiles with 20 Javelin command launch units worth 47 million dollars.
"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 DSCA said.
Congress has 30 days to raise objections to the proposed sales.
The announcements followed a visit to the United States this week by Taiwanese defence minister Chen Chao-min, the first of its kind since 2002.
Taiwan and the mainland have been governed separately since they split in 1949 at the end of a civil war but Beijing sees the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.
China has repeatedly threatened to invade Taiwan should the island declare formal independence.
- AFP /ls
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