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WASHINGTON: China has cancelled or postponed several military exchanges with the United States in protest against a proposed US$6.5 billion arms sale to Taiwan, a Pentagon spokesman said Monday.
"The Chinese reaction is unfortunate and results in missed opportunities," said Major Stuart Upton.
Upton said senior level visits and exchanges involving humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief issues that had been scheduled to take place before the end of November, were cancelled or postponed.
The Pentagon notified Congress Friday of US$6.5 billion in proposed arms sales to Taiwan, including advanced Patriot missile defences, Apache attack helicopters and submarine-launched anti-ship missiles.
Chinese officials in Washington and Beijing "responded with displeasure to the US announcement," Upton said.
"PRC officials have informed us that US-Chinese bilateral events may be affected," he said.
Upton said there has been no change in US policy on arms sales to Taiwan and that the United States had faithfully abided by the US-Taiwan Relations Act, which provides for sales of defensive weapons to Taipei.
"We feel that the global security environment calls for US and PRC officials to maintain close relations to address common security challenges," he said.
"Uncertainty over the motivations and direction of China's military expansion leads others to hedge," he said. "This could lead to a security environment less favourable to China's interests, the region's, and our own."
In protesting the proposed sales on Saturday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao warned it would damage Sino-US relations, and called on Washington to call them off.
Liu said the sales 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.
The sale would be the first to Taiwan in a year, and the first under a new administration in Taipei that came to power in May promising to ease tensions with the mainland.
The package includes 330 Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) missiles and associated equipment worth up to US$3.1 billion. The advanced missile defence system has never been sold to Taiwan before.
The Pentagon also is proposing selling Taiwan 30 AH-64 Apache Longbow attack helicopters and 1,000 Hellfire missiles to beef up its anti-armour capabilities, and for close air support of its ground forces.
The helicopters are worth up to US$2.5 billion, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
Taiwan has also asked to buy 31 UGM-84L submarine-launched Harpoon anti-ship missiles valued at up to US$200 million.
It also requested 182 Javelin guided missiles with 20 Javelin command launch units worth US$47 million. The missiles are portable anti-tank weapons.
Other proposed sales call for upgrading four E-2 Hawkeye aircraft and supplies of spare parts for fighter aircraft, transport planes, radar and communications equipment.
"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 that is awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.
- AFP/yb
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