Posted on 09/28/2005 6:13:38 PM PDT by Flavius
BEIJING - A planned American weapons sale to Taiwan will damage relations between Washington and Beijing, a Chinese official said, ahead of next month's visit to China by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. ADVERTISEMENT
Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said China could never accept the proposed $15.3 billion sale — involving eight diesel-powered submarines, 12 anti-submarine aircraft and six Patriot missile batteries — because it constituted interference in China's affairs.
Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949, and China has threatened the use of force against the self-governing island if it declares formal independence.
"(The weapons deal) would undermine national security and the unification of China and harm relations between the U.S. and China," Qin told reporters Tuesday. "We urge the U.S. to clearly recognize the serious harm the weapons package entails."
Qin's comments came several weeks ahead of a planned visit to the mainland by Rumsfeld, who has questioned the need for China's recent military buildup, saying in June that the country did not face sufficient threats to justify it.
The proposed weapons deal was first approved by the Bush administration in 2001 but has since been delayed by Taiwan's opposition Nationalist Party, which has a small legislative majority.
The Nationalists say the weapons purchase would throw Taiwan into an arms race with China that it could not afford, while President Chen Shui-bian's ruling Democratic Progressive Party believes that China's increased military spending leaves Taiwan no choice.
The Nationalists support eventual unification with mainland China, while the DPP seeks to strengthen Taiwan's status as a self-governing entity.
If you guys think China will lose in a war, why doesn't the opposing country invade china then?
Eh? 11th hour thread crapping?
Test
Everyone knows that there is no arms sales that will prevent taiwan being taken by china, china is too strong in its home turf, and america will do nothing to prevent this for the obvious reason there is nothing to do that will not involve a hefty price. As for the arms sales Amrica cannot affort top sell sophisticated weapons to taiwan since when taiwan will be absorbed by china all that technology will eventually fall into china's hands.
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