Obama told to halt US arms sales to Taiwan

Source: Xinhua/Shanghai Daily  |   2008-11-7  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

CHINA said yesterday the proper handling of the Taiwan issue was key to good Sino-US relations and urged America's President-elect Barack Obama to halt arms sales to Taiwan.

"Looking at China-US relations in recent years, the most sensitive issue has been Taiwan," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at a regular briefing in Beijing.

"The proper handling of this issue is fundamental (to the China-US relationship)," Qin said.

China last month denounced a US plan to sell a US$6.5 billion package of arms to Taiwan, including attack helicopters and missiles, and demanded the US halt all military exchanges with the island.

"We hope that the US side will abide by its promise to respect the 'one-China policy' and oppose 'Taiwan independence,' and halt arms sales to Taiwan," Qin said.

China was willing to work with the US administration, in accordance with the three communiques issued by the two sides, to solve sensitive issues in bilateral ties, he said.

The three communiques, signed in 1972, 1978 and 1982, laid the basic principles for the two countries' bilateral ties. In them, the US government promised to support the one-China principle and not to support "Taiwan independence."

"The Chinese government holds a positive and open attitude toward contacts with Obama and his team, since it is conducive to a stable transition and the healthy and stable development of Sino-US relations," he said.

China placed great importance on cooperation with the US and was willing to work with the American administration, Qin said. "We hope China and the US will have more opportunities, less trouble, fewer challenges and more cooperation."

In response to Sino-US trade imbalances and China's currency policy, Qin expected the two countries to deal with this issue through "equal and friendly" dialogue.

Bilateral trade and economic cooperation benefited both sides and improved the welfare of Americans, he said.