China Warns France over Satellite Sale to TaiwanChina Tuesday again warned France against selling a satellite to Taiwan, saying such a sale would have a "negative impact" on Sino-French relations."Regarding the sale of a satellite by France, we always expressed our opposition and displeasure," foreign ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said at a routine briefing in Beijing. "If France goes ahead with this, this will surely have a negative impact on the relations between China and France," he said. Sun was referring to the sale of a 75 million dollar satellite to Taiwan made by the Matra Marconi Space Group. China views Taiwan as one of its provinces and although Beijing encourages trade between other countries and Taiwan, it adamantly opposes official contacts or military sales to the island. In earlier talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, the French government made it clear the satellite was for civilian purposes only and did not exceed mainland limitations on what constitutes a military sale to the island. |
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