China firmly opposed US arms sales to Taiwan, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan Thursday at the regular press conference.

He said that during US Vice President Dick Cheney's visit to China, Chinese leaders including Chinese President Hu Jintao, Chairman of the Central Military Commission Jiang Zemin and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao had all stated China's firm stance on the issue and urged the US side to stop arms sales to Taiwan and sending incorrect signals to the forces for "Taiwan Independence".

Kong quoted Cheney as saying that the US side had realized the importance of the Taiwan issue to the Sino-US relations and the United States would adhere to the one-China policy based on the three joint communiques between China and the United States.

Cheney also said the United States would not support Taiwan's "independence" or any unilateral actions to change the status quo of the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, Kong added.

China demands US clarify report on arms sales to Taiwan

China has demanded that the United States clarify the report by Taiwan media on US arms sales to Taiwan.

Taiwan media reported that the United States inclined to sell submarines, Patriot-III anti-missile system and anti-submarine planes to Taiwan, and the island is ready to propose a budgetary program for the sales.

The US arms sales to Taiwan violate the three Sino-US joint communiques, particularly the August 17 Joint Communique, Kong said.

The move "interferes with China's internal affairs and may lead to further tension in situation across the Taiwan Straits," the spokesman said, adding that China has been opposing arms sales to Taiwan.

"We urged the US side to honor its commitments, stop arms sales to Taiwan and stop any words or deeds in violation of the principles in the three joint communiques to avoid sabotaging the peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and the development of Sino-US relations," Kong said.

Source: Xinhua