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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Jianchao's Remarks on the US Government's Decision to Sell Weapons to Taiwan

2008-10-06 13:05:00

On October 3rd, in disregard of China's repeated solemn representations, the U.S. Government informed the Congress of its decision to sell US$6.463 billion weapons to Taiwan, including Patriot III anti-missile system, E-2T airborne early warning aircraft upgrade system, and Apache helicopters. The Chinese Government and people firmly oppose and condemn the US move, which will severely undermine China's interest and Sino-US relations. Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei has been ordered to summon the Charge d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in China to raise strong protest to the US side.

China resolutely opposes the US arms sales to Taiwan. This position has always been clear and consistent. The US decision to sell the above-mentioned advanced arms to Taiwan is a serious violation of the principles set in the three Sino-US Joint Communiqués, August 17 Communiqué in particular, and gross interference in China's internal affairs, which will undermine China's national security, and create disturbance and obstacles to the peaceful development of the cross-Strait relations. The Chinese Government and people will definitely respond with strong indignation.

It is our solemn statement to the US side that there is but one China in the world with Taiwan part of it. Nobody could bend the strong will of the Chinese Government and people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity against external interference. Nobody could block the historic endeavor of both sides across the Strait to promote cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation and open up new prospects of peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.

We once again urge the US side to recognize the severity of its arms sales to Taiwan, earnestly honor its commitment to abiding by the one-China policy and the three Sino-US Joint Communiqués, and to opposing "Taiwan independence". The US should take immediate measures to correct its mistakes, cancel relevant plans to sell weapons to Taiwan, put an end to its military links with Taiwan, and stop disturbing the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, so as to prevent further damage to the Sino-US relations as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. China reserves the right to make further reactions.

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