US arms sales to Taiwan sparks tension
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-06-25 21:02

China expresses serious concern over the United States' recent intentions of selling advanced weapons to Taiwan, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told reporters Friday.

According to some remarks in the United States, China has no reason to worry about US intentions of selling advanced weapons such as P-3C anti-submarine aircraft to Taiwan, because the United States is only carrying out the plan, which was approved three years ago, on selling such weapons.

Asked to comment on the remarks, Zhang said China has always been clearly opposed to US arms sales to Taiwan, noting that the arms sales to Taiwan seriously violate US commitment in the three Sino-US joint communiques, particularly the August 17 Joint Communique.

The move also undermines China's sovereignty and national interests, gives rise to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and leads to further tension across the Taiwan Straits, Zhang said, adding that it will surely do severe harm to the bilateral relations and cooperation between China and the United States.

"We urge the United States to realize the harmfulness of this issue, and to stop the wrongdoing of selling arms to Taiwan," Zhang said.