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China demands US scrap its proposed Taiwan missile sale

China demanded yesterday the US 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 (秦剛) 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 planned to sell Taiwan US$421 million in missiles, which would help boost the nation's defenses against 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 violated US commitments to the "one China policy," which maintains that there is only one China with Beijing as its capital.

By selling weapons to Taiwan, Washington was also violating its promise to gradually reduce sales to Taiwan, he said.
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