- The United States said it would continue selling weapons
to Taiwan, shrugging off a warning from Beijing that any improvement in
US-China relations hinged on America cutting military links with the island.
-
- China warned Tuesday that Beijing was "gravely concerned"
over recent US moves on the Taiwan question, pointing out that the situation
was "quite critical," particularly over arms sales.
-
- "Well, I don't know why one needs to talk about
recent US moves," US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said
when asked to comment on the statement.
-
- Boucher said there had been no change in US policy regarding
China and Taiwan and vowed defence sales to Taipei would continue as enshrined
in US law.
-
- "We continue the sale of appropriate defensive military
equipment to Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act,"
he said.
-
- Senior Bush administration officials were quoted by the
Washington Times Wednesday as saying a key reason for US military sales
to Taiwan was China's missile buildup opposite the island.
-
- That message was delivered to Chinese President Hu Jintao
in Beijing last week by National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, in
response to Chinese complaints about Taiwan, according to the officials,
the newspaper reported.
-
- Some 500 short-range ballistic missiles in China are
currently aimed at Taiwan and US experts say they could destroy key Taiwanese
targets with minimal advanced warning.
-
- Rice reportedly told Chinese leaders that a weapons deal
with Taiwan had been under way since April 2001 and was reaching the point
of actual transfers.
-
- Pending sales are expected to include Patriot anti-missile
systems and P-3 anti-submarine aircraft. Taiwan also is negotiating to
buy up to eight diesel electric submarines and several guided missile destroyers.
-
- Taiwan's cabinet on June 2 approved a special budget
of 610 billion Taiwan dollars (18.2 billion US dollars) for the purchase
of advanced weaponry. A team from Taipei was reportedly in the United States
recently to shop for arms.
-
- The United States remains the leading arms supplier to
Taiwan despite its shift of diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing
in 1979.
-
- Under a 25-year-old US law called the Taiwan Relations
Act, the United States acknowledges Beijing's position that Taiwan is part
of China but is bound by law to provide weapons to help Taiwan defend itself
if its security is threatened.
-
- China has repeatedly threatened to invade Taiwan should
the island declare formal independence. The two sides split in 1949 at
the end of a civil war but Beijing regards the island as part of its territory.
-
- Cross-strait tension has been escalating since pro-independence
Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian took office in 2000, and since his re-election
in March this year.
-
- Boucher said the United States was committed to its one-China
policy based on three joint communiques signed by the two countries and
the Taiwan Relations Act.
-
- "We've opposed unilateral moves by either side that
would change the status quo," he said.
-
- "For Beijing, this means no use of force or other
forms of coercion against Taiwan. For Taipei, it means exercising prudence
in managing all aspects of cross-Straits relations," he explained.
-
- Boucher reiterated US policy not to support Taiwan's
independence.
-
- "For both sides, it means no statements or actions
that would unilaterally alter Taiwan's status," he said.
-
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