China reiterates opposition to United States arms sale to Taiwan

China has in the past suspended military exchanges with the USA over arms sales to Taiwan.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang summoned the US Embassy’s chargé d’affaires to protest that the arms sale had harmed China’s security interests and that sanctions would be imposed against the US companies involved, according to a statement on the foreign ministry’s website.

The U.S. arms sales to Taiwan blatantly violate the three joint communiques signed by China and the U.S., especially the one signed on August 17, 1982, under which the U.S. agrees to gradually reduce and eventually stop its shipment of weapons to Taiwan.

The timing of the sale seemed carefully calibrated to minimize friction with Beijing, analysts said, coming several weeks ahead of elections in Taiwan that are expected to be won by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, which is far ahead in the polls.

It includes two Perry-class Frigates, Javelin anti-tank missiles, TOW 2B anti-tank missiles and AAV-7 Amphibious Assault Vehicles.

That culminated last month in a meeting between Ma and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Singapore, the first time the heads of state had met since the sides split amid civil war in 1949.

However, critics contend the US could have approved the planned sales on a piecemeal basis rather than present them as a package in what they say is an effort to minimize criticism from China.

On Monday, Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work said China “embodies a more enduring strategic challenge” in the long term for the United States than Russian Federation or terrorism.

“Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory”.

He added that China will ease restrictions for Taiwanese to do business on the mainland, by opening 24 sectors, including advertising and packaging, to entrepreneurs from Taiwan from Jan 1 next year.

The move is attributable to the US-China row over the South China Sea, where China’s artificial islands have prompted strong reactions from the US. The proposed sale also includes Phalanx Close-in Weapons System guns, upgrade kits, ammunition and support.

Jia Qingguo, a Peking University global relations professor, said Washington had tried to choose a less sensitive time to finalise the arms deal. “Meanwhile, we also hope the Taiwanese-side prizes the peaceful development of relations and does more that is conducive to improvement and development of relations”, he said.

Observers said the Chinese reaction was predictable bluster from Beijing. The act requires the U.S. to provide Taiwan with sufficient weaponry to defend itself, even though the USA does not recognize Taiwan as a state independent of China.