Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) China imposes sanctions on US over Taiwan arms deal

China imposes sanctions on US over Taiwan arms deal
SMH/TZG
Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:45:00 +0000

CHINA has cancelled all military exchanges with the United States in response to the proposed $US6.4 billion ($7.23 billion) sale of advanced missiles and helicopters to Taiwan by Washington.

Beijing has also imposed sanctions on the companies selling the arms and threatened to review co-operation on other issues. The US responded defiantly, insisting that the sales would contribute to regional security.

The angry row escalates frictions between Beijing and Washington, who are at odds over trade, climate change and a threat by internet giant Google to leave the Chinese market in protest against alleged computer hacking of its members' accounts.

It is a further blow to the hopes of the US President, Barack Obama, to secure Chinese support for tougher measures against Iran over its illicit nuclear programme. The US State Department insisted that the arms sale contributed to ''security and stability'' between Taiwan and China.

''Such sales contribute to maintaining security and stability across the Taiwan Strait,'' said a US State Department spokeswoman, Laura Tischler. ''The US is the leading arms supplier to Taiwan and, under a 1979 act of Congress, is legally obliged to help Taiwan defend itself.''

China had warned the US that the sale would have a ''serious negative impact'' on ties between the two countries.

Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province that is still part of its territory.

Announcing its retaliation, a Defence Ministry spokesman, Huang Xueping, said: "We made the decision out of considerations on the severe harm of the US arms sales to Taiwan.''

China's Vice Foreign Minister, He Yafei, said the arms deal would lead to an ''aftermath both sides would not prefer'' and called on Washington to reverse its ''erroneous'' decision.

Mr He said China was "strongly indignant" about the package of weapons, which includes 114 Patriot anti-missile missiles, 60 Black Hawk helicopters and two minesweepers, which was submitted to the US Congress for approval on Friday.

''The US plan will definitely undermine China-US relations and bring about a serious negative impact on exchanges and co-operation in major areas between the two countries,'' said Mr He in a statement.

There have been no signs Beijing will try to use its US dollar assets to pressure Washington, or impose broader trade penalties, both steps that would undercut China's economic strength.

But China's Defence Ministry said military exchanges would be put on hold and Beijing postponed vice ministerial-level talks on security, arms control and non-proliferation.

The military freeze could prevent a visit to China by the US Defence Secretary, Robert Gates. Military contacts between the two powers are limited, and were last suspended by China in 2008 over a previous round of US arms sales to Taiwan.

The row is the latest sign of the fraught relationship between the two superpowers and marks a significant end to US unilateralism.

President Obama's decision later this year to meet the Dalai Lama, who China regards as a dangerous separatist, has also angered Beijing.

Labels: CHINA, SANCTIONS, USA

posted by MrK @ 7:07 AM