China’s defense minister has demanded that the US cancel a US$6.5 billion arms sale to Taiwan, saying it poses an obstacle to relations between Beijing and Washington.
Liang Guanglie’s (梁光烈) remarks were the latest show of Beijing’s irritation over the arms package, which includes Patriot III missiles, Apache helicopters and parts for F-16 jet fighters.
Washington must “strictly adhere to its commitments on the Taiwan issue, immediately cancel all items regarding arms sales to Taiwan and cease US-Taiwan military relations,” Liang was quoted by Xinhua news agency yesterday as telling visiting US Senator Chuck Hagel.
The sale has “not only damaged relations between the two countries and two militaries, but also created obstacles in exchanges and cooperation in all areas, including high level exchanges between the two militaries,” Liang was quoted as saying.
That was an apparent reference to Beijing’s suspension of some senior-level visits and other planned exchanges, which was passed on earlier this month to Pentagon officials, but not publicly confirmed by Chinese officials.
Despite the suspension of high-level military contacts and a further diplomatic protest from Beijing, experts said they did not anticipate a wider rift developing over the arms sale because tensions between Taipei and Beijing have eased since President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) took office.
In his Double Ten national day address, Ma said his efforts to alleviate tensions across the Taiwan Strait “have won the international community’s affirmation.”
“The aim of these initiatives is to create a more open, stable environment for cross-strait interaction,” Ma said.
Beijing did not issue a public response to Ma’s remarks.
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