China Condemns US Arms Sales To Taiwan

Governor Green (left) and Taiwan President William Lai Ching-te (right) (reuters)

JAKARTA - Beijing submitted a'serious protest' to the United States and condemned the visit of Taiwanese leaders in the Hawaii Islands, Guam. The visit was allegedly related to the sale of US weapons to Tauwan.

China said it would take firm countermeasures after learning that Uncle Sam's country had approved more arms sales to Taiwan. The decision to approve the sale of weapons to Taiwan quoted from Aljazeera was made hours before Taiwan President William Lai Ching-te transited in Hawaii.

The sale of weapons consisting of spare parts and support for F-16 jets and radar has a value of $385 million. William Lai Ching-te will make visits to three Pacific countries.

The decision to sell weapons to Taiwan is considered to have damaged good relations between the United States and China. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that US arms sales to Taiwan sent a "mispropriate signal" to Taiwanese independence forces.

"Chinese will follow developments carefully and be ready to take firm and strong action to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country," he told reporters, Sunday, December 1.

According to him, the US is bound by law to provide assistance to Taiwan as a means of self-defense, although there is no formal diplomatic link between Washington and Taipei, which has constantly angered Beijing. The ministry added that it firmly opposes any official exchange between the US and Taiwan.

William Lai Ching-te came to Hawaii for a while transit. Lai came on a leisurely Hawaiian shirt and was greeted very well by Governor Green and Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) in Washington.

Lai said he was very happy to be welcomed and mentioned that Taiwan and the United States will continue to fight together to prevent war.

"Untungable peace, and war knows no winner," he said.