Arms sale plan denounced

China on Saturday denounced the US government's decision to sell about $6.5 billion worth of arms to Taiwan.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said the Chinese government and people firmly opposed the move, which seriously damaged China's interests and China-US relations.

The US government, despite China's repeated solemn objections, on Friday notified the Congress about its plan to sell arms to Taiwan, including the Patriot III anti-missile system, the E-2T airborne early warning aircraft upgrade system and Apache helicopters.

Vice-Foreign Minister He Yafei has summoned the charge d'affaires of the US Embassy to China to raise strong protest against the US move, according to the ministry's spokesperson.

China firmly opposes US arms sales to Taiwan, Liu said, adding that China has been clear and consistent in its stance on the issue.

The US government's agreement to the arms sale to Taiwan severely violated the principles of the three joint communiques between China and the US, especially the communique on US arms sales to Taiwan signed on Aug 17, 1982.

It also grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, and it endangered Chinese national security. In addition, it disturbed the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, Liu said.

"It is only natural that this move would stir up strong indignation among the Chinese government and people," he said.

"We sternly warn the United States that there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan is a part of China."

He said nobody could shake the Chinese government's and people's strong determination to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to oppose external interference. And nobody could stop efforts to promote cross-Straits exchanges and the beginning of a new chapter of peace in cross-Straits relations.

China urged the US to recognize arms sales to Taiwan are seriously harmful, Liu said, noting the US should honor its commitment to the one-China policy, abide by the three China-US joint communiques and oppose so-called "Taiwan independence".

Liu said the US should immediately take actions to correct its mistakes, cancel the proposed arms sale, end military links with Taiwan and stop disturbing the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations. This would prevent further damaging China-US relations, and the peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

China reserved the right to take further measures, he said.

The foreign affairs committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee and that of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee both issued statements that said people of all walks of life in China opposed the arms sale.

The statements said cross-Straits relations have recently gained considerable momentum, which accords with the interests of both Chinese and US citizens.

Defense Ministry spokesman Hu Changming said the US decision has ruined the positive atmosphere of cooperation that had existed between the two armed forces in recent years.
Questions:

1. How much are the arms worth that the US plans to sell to Taiwan?

2. What did Vice-Foreign Minister He Yafei do?

3. What did Defense Ministry spokesman Hu Changming say about the sale?

Answers:

1. $6.5 billion.

2. He summoned the charge d'affaires of the US Embassy to China to raise strong protest against the move.

3. That it has ruined the positive atmosphere of cooperation that had existed between the two armed forces in recent years.