Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen said Tuesday in advance of talks with US President George W. Bush that Sino-American relations would suffer a "very serious" setback if Taiwan receives administration permission to buy four US destroyers with highly sophisticated radar equipment.
The Taiwan issue was expected to dominate Qian's talks with Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday and with Bush today.
Taiwan has requested four destroyers equipped with the AEGIS radar system. The state-of-the-art battle system defends ships against various types of missile attacks. The administration is expected to make a decision next month.
Meeting with media representatives in New York, Qian refused to rule out a pre-emptive attack on Taiwan if Bush goes ahead with the sale.
"It all depends on the circumstances," he said.
Asked about Qian's remarks, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said, "We do expect differences on the role and the impact of US arms sales to Taiwan."
He said it is longstanding US policy not to consult with China on arms sales to Taiwan.
"We sell to Taiwan what we think is appropriate and necessary to meet their legitimate defensive needs," he said.
Boucher said the administration believes the US relationship with Taiwan helps to give the island "confidence and comfort" to engage with Beijing.
Qian said the AEGIS sale would be a violation of a 1982 agreement under which the US pledged not to improve the quality or quantity of its weapons sales to Taiwan compared with previous years.
"Just imagine," Qian said, "China has always stood for peaceful reunification" with Taiwan. The AEGIS sale would "change the issue into a military solution," he added.
Boucher said he could not say whether an AEGIS sale would violate the 1982 agreement because a review process is still under way.
China fears AEGIS could form part of a more comprehensive shield to defend Taiwan against a missile attack.
Qian also reaffirmed China's opposition to the Bush administration's plans to deploy a missile defense system to protect US territory.
"This is not just an issue involving China," he said. "If the global equilibrium is broken so casually, it could lead to an international crisis."
From China's point of view, US deployment of a missile defense would alter the international power balance in favor of the US because, among other factors, it would neutralize China's offensive capability.
Critics of the Bush plan contend that a missile defense program could touch off an arms race.
Powell has defended the concept on grounds that it will deter an adversary who might otherwise be tempted to develop a capability for launching missiles against US cities.
The US tone toward China has been more hostile since Bush took office, and his encounter with Qian may be the most adversarial he has had with any foreign leader.
On such issues as trade, the Korean peninsula and non-proliferation, the two countries have shown an ability to cooperate but they appear deeply divided on Taiwan.
Qian, highlighting the positive, said he was pleased that Bush indicated a desire to attend the annual Asia-Pacific summit meeting, which is set for Shanghai in October.
"It is encouraging for this to be arranged six months in advance. It is good for the stability and growth of the relationship," he said.
Asked about the appointment of aides in the administration who are considered unfriendly to China, Qian said his country has had constructive ties with Republican and Democratic administrations since 1972.All, he noted with satisfaction, have pursued "the same policy of one China."
NO HUMAN ERROR: After the incident, the Coast Guard Administration said it would obtain uncrewed aerial vehicles and vessels to boost its detection capacity Authorities would improve border control to prevent unlawful entry into Taiwan’s waters and safeguard national security, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday after a Chinese man reached the nation’s coast on an inflatable boat, saying he “defected to freedom.” The man was found on a rubber boat when he was about to set foot on Taiwan at the estuary of Houkeng River (後坑溪) near Taiping Borough (太平) in New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口), authorities said. The Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) northern branch said it received a report at 6:30am yesterday morning from the New Taipei City Fire Department about a
IN BEIJING’S FAVOR: A China Coast Guard spokesperson said that the Chinese maritime police would continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters it claims The Philippines withdrew its coast guard vessel from a South China Sea shoal that has recently been at the center of tensions with Beijing. BRP Teresa Magbanua “was compelled to return to port” from Sabina Shoal (Xianbin Shoal, 仙濱暗沙) due to bad weather, depleted supplies and the need to evacuate personnel requiring medical care, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela said yesterday in a post on X. The Philippine vessel “will be in tiptop shape to resume her mission” after it has been resupplied and repaired, Philippine Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who heads the nation’s maritime council, said
REGIONAL STABILITY: Taipei thanked the Biden administration for authorizing its 16th sale of military goods and services to uphold Taiwan’s defense and safety The US Department of State has approved the sale of US$228 million of military goods and services to Taiwan, the US Department of Defense said on Monday. The state department “made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale” to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US for “return, repair and reshipment of spare parts and related equipment,” the defense department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a news release. Taiwan had requested the purchase of items and services which include the “return, repair and reshipment of classified and unclassified spare parts for aircraft and related equipment; US Government
More than 500 people on Saturday marched in New York in support of Taiwan’s entry to the UN, significantly more people than previous years. The march, coinciding with the ongoing 79th session of the UN General Assembly, comes close on the heels of growing international discourse regarding the meaning of UN Resolution 2758. Resolution 2758, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1971, recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the “only lawful representative of China.” It resulted in the Republic of China (ROC) losing its seat at the UN to the PRC. Taiwan has since been excluded from