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."
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