Posted on 01/31/2010 10:57:35 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
China lashed out with a raft of reprisals Saturday after Washington announced a 6.4-billion-dollar arms package for Taiwan, escalating the biggest Sino-US crisis yet under President Barack Obama. Berating the year-old Obama administration for "crude interference" in its affairs, China said it was suspending military and security contacts with the United States, and imposing sanctions on US firms involved in the Taiwan deal.
The furious riposte came a day after the Pentagon approved the sale of Patriot missiles, Black Hawk helicopters, mine-hunting ships and communications equipment for Taiwan's F-16 fleet of fighter jets among other weaponry.
Chinese defence ministry spokesman Huang Xueping said the reprisals reflected the "severe harm" posed by the deal with Taiwan, which Beijing says is a part of its territory and must return to the mainland fold.
But US State Department spokeswoman Laura Tischler told AFP the sale "contributes to maintaining security and stability across the Taiwan Strait."
Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, who has overseen a marked warming in trade and political relations with China, said Beijing had nothing to fear from the sale.
"It will let Taiwan feel more confident and secure so we can have more interactions with China," Ma said, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency.
However, the Chinese response underscored a rapid degeneration in relations with the United States following recent strains over trade, climate change and Google's threat to quit China.
Observers said China could yet go further by rejecting new UN sanctions on Iran. Hours before the announcement on Taiwan, the United States urged Beijing to help curb Iran's nuclear programme.
(Excerpt) Read more at sinodaily.com ...
According to estimates, the forces available to the PLA for the invasion of Taiwan include about 50,000 troops of the 31st Group Army deployed in Nanjing Military Region. The PLA could reshuffle in a short period some of the “Rapid Reaction Forces” of other military regions, which along with strategic reserves would bring perhaps another 250,000 troops to the area.
Ma pappy always said:
“Don’t piss off your banker when you need money!”
Zer0, are you listening???
This should have all happened under cover. And anyhow I thought Bummer was the peacenik president? Who would give Florida to Cuba if Cuba would take it?
It’s a good thing that this is now out in the open.
Delaying tackling China will only worsen the inevitable.
What’s the angle for the Bummer in it. That’s what I’m trying to puzzle out. This is not like him.
Probably retaliation for Google. His economic advisers are from Google and they’re whispering in the ear of the most gullible president in history.
OR getting even after the Chicoms dissed him openly at Copenhagen.
Damn, I don’t know who’s side to choose.
I’m more inclined toward the broken-clock analogy.
China better tread lightly, or we will boycott Wal-Mart and tank their economy.
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