China Opposes U.S. Arms Sale To Taiwan

$6 Billion Package Could Complicate Beijing's Help In Stalled North Korean Disarmament Efforts

(CBS/AP)  China says it strongly opposes a U.S. decision to sell Taiwan up to $6.5 billion in advanced weapons.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in a statement Saturday that the arms sale would interfere in China's internal affairs and national security.

He says the Chinese government and people strongly oppose the sale, and that it would harm relations between China and the United States.

The U.S. government announced the package in a notification to Congress on Friday. It includes Apache helicopters and Patriot III anti-missile missiles.

The State Department said lawmakers (who were expected to leave Washington Friday to campaign for November elections) have 30 days to comment on the proposed sale. Without objections, the deal is completed.

The arms package enjoys support among senior lawmakers.

China, however, vehemently opposes the deal. Beijing claims the island as its territory and threatens to invade should the self-governing island ever formalize its de facto independence.

Taiwan relies on U.S. weapons to keep pace with China's massive arms buildup across the Taiwan Strait. U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are a sensitive matter because any dispute between China and Taiwan could ensnare the United States, Taiwan's most important ally and largest arms supplier. Washington shifted its recognition as China's official government from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, but it remains committed to Taiwan's defense and has hinted it could come to the island's aid if China should attack.

U.S. caution about selling arms to Taiwan reflects China's growing economic and political clout. The Bush administration needs China's help in a host of international efforts, including attempts to confront Iranian and North Korean nuclear programs.

This year's U.S. Defense Department report on China's military said Beijing continues its huge military buildup opposite Taiwan, further pushing the balance of power between the two rivals toward the mainland's favor.

[closethippy1]

Oh, well. The US just lost a whole bunch of military contracts with China over this issue and now more Americans will be making that much less money.
Jr and *** keep on marching to their own drummer and can''t let reality get in their way.

[gaye5]

jerryomara, you are right, because of globalism we ahve to tip toe around everyone just in case the do the dirty on us. I feel that we should pull back and not allow so many other countries to buy our land and industry and yes it will be hard but what is worse, pandering to all these nations just in case they stop liking us??? Perhaps we should go back to industries within our own countries instead of buying off other nations, it worked before so why not now and whats more it caused more people to be employed, and yes things were more expensive but???

[dwmcgill]

cdfoxtrot4,

You are likely right. However, the U.S. finds itself in a bitter triangle.
1) Taiwan is a freely-elected democracy that has faithfully supported the US for generations - and the U.S. has responded in kind.
2)PRC is becoming - not is, but becoming - a real threat to Taiwan and don''t believe any of us are unclear what that would mean
3) PRC will almost be forced to sell technology to unstable states, such as you listed.

The only real manner to escape this triangle is if the remaining free countries of this world (that have benefited from the U.S. protection for seventy years) will stand behind it en masse.

[larryfarma1]

All this could have been avoided if the US had insisted that China recognize Taiwan''s independence as a pre-condition for accepting China as Taiwan''s replacement as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

[kaylag04]

Posted by lovegetpeace: On 28 September 2008, Bush provoked Russian by announcing his plan to place Missile-Defense systems in Eastern Europe.
3 October 2008, Bush provoked China by announcing his plan to sell weapons to Taiwan.
We are lucky that Bush will be replaced on 20 January 2009 by Obama who will be more diplomatic and not behave like a Cowboy or Macho Man.

Yeah, let''s quit pickin'' on poor little China and those fun lovin'' Russians. Perhaps a new administration will send ''em an FTD bouquet and a friendship ring. Then the Chinese''ll forget about Darfur, Taiwan and Tibet, and the Russians will leave Georgia and the ''stans in peace. C''mon people now! Smile on your brother!

[harp1963]

Dear China,

There are to many Irish in America for you. Bring it on.

[kennergirl]

Too bad China! Y''all are trying to slowly kill us all with your contaminated food and lead paint! Catch back is heII isn''t it!
Okay, I''m kidding (well just a little).

So the Chinese are scared that Taiwan is going to fight back??? And all this time I thought everybody that lived in China was all for China. The Chinese government wanted everyone to believe that, I guess. Seems like China might be having themselves a civil war soon with the way they''re reacting.
Stuff happens.

[lixiangmei45]

one more example of US making money with any means.it''s the same in world 2.China is one of the members of the permanent security council because China has sacrifice a lot more than many othercounties an now she can do a lot more to make this world a better place,especilly in world peace.can you imagine what A.isa would look like withot such a responsible China

[cdfoxtrot4]

"China Opposes U.S. Arms Sale To Taiwan". Perhaps they should counter the move by selling arms and missiles to "Eye-Ran". You betcha.

[downtowner97]

Normally I''d be way down on this deal, but under the circumstances, that''s $6 billion I don''t have to pay against our debt. Enjoy the bombs, boys and girls!

[yongamerica]

China objects to a countries right to defend itself. Especially when its short and long term goal is to absorb it as their own.

FREE TIBET
FREE THE CHINESE FROM THE REPRESSIVE AND CORRUPT COMMUNIST REGIME

[john-in-ct]

The U.S. seems to think it''s okay to do as we please, anywhere we please, whenever we please, however we please but no one else can. It seems we are to trying to bully the world, but I guess that''s okay. I don''t think that''s the way our founders were thinking when they set up this great nation. Our day is coming. We are no better than any other country. We talk about peace but do nothing to bring about peace. People (and countries) that need to control others are really cowards.

[bobbyduck1]

blabla Bush is great blabla

Posted by indivthinker at 12:27 PM : Oct 04, 2008

So if it''s such a good idea, why do these skulking rats wait until Congress is adjourning for the campaign season, THEN sneak it in and dare Congress to skip campaigning and argue with them about it?

I don''t speak so much to the arms sale itself as I do to the sneaking, underhanded tactics of public enemies number 1 and 2 - the heads of the worst administration in the history of our once-great country!

In the McCarthy years we were dumb enough to hand the GOP the power to run both the legislative and executive branches, then in the early Bush/Cheney years we were dumb enough to let it happen again.

NEVER AGAIN! Haven''t these two shameful, America-destroying episodes been enough to teach us for all time?

Our only hope for a return to anything that looks remotely like America is to elect Obama/Biden AND a filibuster-proof majority in 2008. If we don''t, we have only ourselves to blame for completing the downfall of what used to be the greatest country in the world.

[lovegetpeace]

Posted by thomm1961 at 01:02 PM : Oct 04, 2008

Once Idiot Americans can say "I LOVE INFLATION", then we can stop importation of goods made in China. Otherwise, be quiet please.

[thomm1961]

Screw China, we need to extricate ourselves from the Chinese. Jobs need to come back to the U.S. I hope the next president can see that. Everything is made in China because they use slave labor. Why do we want to be so wrapped up in their tyranny? I saw a cuddly little cat toy in Petsmart the other day and realized that it was real cat fur! Google Chinese Animal Cruelty and watch how they throw live cats and dogs into scalding water and how they skin them alive.

[lovegetpeace]

On 28 September 2008, Bush provoked Russian by announcing his plan to place Missile-Defense systems in Eastern Europe.

3 October 2008, Bush provoked China by announcing his plan to sell weapons to Taiwan.

We are lucky that Bush will be replaced on 20 January 2009 by Obama who will be more diplomatic and not behave like a Cowboy or Macho Man.

[indivthinker]

"1. FACT: Taiwan''''s new government is pro-china UNIFICATION."
-But the people are not pro-China. There is so much pro-democracy and anti-China attitude in China that any chance at reunification between Taiwan and China would spark a major civil war. The government would never risk it.

"2. FACT: China WILL get it''''s hand on U.S military technology."
-China most likely already has its hand on Apache helicopter and Patriot III missile technology. Besides, they have the equivalent of the technology in their own form or another.

"3. Making China angry will NOT help us win their support against IRAN in the UN."
-China and Russia have been assuring the West that any round of sanctions that can really affect Iran will not be passed anyway, so whoopty doo. Iran is closer allies with Russia and China than ANY Western country is, so nothing will ever get done in the UN.

"4. China is financing our debt and we owe them BILLIONS."
-And what a great way to pay off some of that debt by SELLING stuff to other countries. Gosh you are stupid.

[swwils]

China can **** off,we don''t like tainted milkmeither but we haven''t gone ballistic over it ---yet!They need to chill and keep their world trade market open,like India.We are going to need their back in this next war.

[sueann702]

chris32324, bobbyduck1, and Obiden08, you guys blame Bush for everything! Selling arms to Taiwan has been going on for decades, regardless of whether or not there was a Rep or Dem in office. It''''s called supporting a democratic ally from being threatened by invasion from a tyrant.

Apparently, you liberals just want to blame Bush for anything. You would rather deny our closest allies protective weapons rather than offend a country whose policies call for abusing Tibet, oppressing its own people, opposing the West (our true allies) on everything, and eventual domination of the world. You neglect the fact that China could strike our ally Taiwan any time, and to let that happen is to allow WWIII. If anyone is going to start WWIII, it will be our enemies. Not Bush, not the US. The enemy will be our aggressor.

Selling weapons to our allies might anger our enemies, but who shall dictate our foreign policy: our allies or our enemies? Seems to me that each and every one of you support our enemies'''' cries.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by indivthinker at 12:27 PM : Oct 04, 2008

1. FACT: Taiwan''s new government is pro-china UNIFICATION.
2. FACT: China WILL get it''s hand on U.S military technology.
3. Making China angry will NOT help us win their support against IRAN in the UN.
4. China is financing our debt and we owe them BILLIONS.

[indivthinker]

chris32324, bobbyduck1, and Obiden08, you guys blame Bush for everything! Selling arms to Taiwan has been going on for decades, regardless of whether or not there was a Rep or Dem in office. It''s called supporting a democratic ally from being threatened by invasion from a tyrant.

Apparently, you liberals just want to blame Bush for anything. You would rather deny our closest allies protective weapons rather than offend a country whose policies call for abusing Tibet, oppressing its own people, opposing the West (our true allies) on everything, and eventual domination of the world. You neglect the fact that China could strike our ally Taiwan any time, and to let that happen is to allow WWIII. If anyone is going to start WWIII, it will be our enemies. Not Bush, not the US. The enemy will be our aggressor.

Selling weapons to our allies might anger our enemies, but who shall dictate our foreign policy: our allies or our enemies? Seems to me that each and every one of you support our enemies'' cries.