Taiwan envoy: China ties unaffected by arms sale

AFP ^ | 01/08/2010 | AFP

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Taiwan's top negotiator with China said Monday that ties with Beijing had not been affected by a recently announced US arms package for the island, adding that trade talks would go on as scheduled.

Washington last month approved a 6.4-billion-dollar deal that includes Patriot missiles, Black Hawk helicopters and communications equipment for Taiwan's F-16 fleet.

The weapons sale has sparked concern that Beijing, which has already cut off military and security contacts with Washington in retaliation, could also punish Taipei by postponing negotiations on a wide-ranging trade pact.

However, Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of Taiwan's quasi-official Straits Exchange Foundation, played down Monday the possible negative impact the sale might have on the island's hard-won ties with Beijing.

"Since the arms deal was not new, I believe it won't threaten the coming negotiations," he told reporters. "At least for now, it has not caused any negative impact."

The arms package was decided under previous US president George W. Bush in October 2008, and the sale announced now underway marks the implementation of that decision, some observers have argued.

Ties between Taipei and Beijing have improved markedly since Ma Ying-jeou, a pro-China politician, became president in 2008, pledging to boost trade links and allow in more mainland tourists.

Still, Beijing has not renounced the use of force against Taiwan, which has governed itself since the end of a civil war in 1949, prompting the island to seek more weapons mainly from the United States

[Steve Van Doorn]

is this the ‘official report’ or is this for real?

[Tainan]

"is this the ‘official report’ or is this for real?"

Sadly, one never can be sure the answer to that question.

[Steve Van Doorn]

I think the key to the statement was this:
"At least for now"

it is political talk to avoid problems with talks soon to come. That 2012 ultimatum is coming up, I am sure Taiwan government will be strongly reminded.
The ultimatum was much like how Hong Kong was turned back to China. It was simply to make up your mind to set up a deal by 2012 'or else'.

Since that ultimatum China has been building a military in order to back that threat.