FM Spokeswoman on US Arms Sale to TaiwanThe Chinese side will continue to lodge representations to the US side on the reported arms sales to Taiwan, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said in Beijing Tuesday.The Chinese side strongly demands that the US side abide by the three Sino-US joint communiques and relevant commitments by the US side and exercise prudence on the arms sales issue so as not to do new harm to bilateral relations, she said. When asked to comment on the reported arms sales at the regular press conference, Zhang said the Chinese side has expressed its " serious concern" over the issue. The spokeswoman said that the Chinese government has always been opposed to the US arms sales to Taiwan and is strongly against sales of such sophisticated arms as Kidd-class destroyers, diesel-powered submarines, and the P-3C anti-submarine aircraft. The Chinese side has lodged solemn representations to the US side on many occasions, she said. Zhang noted that if the US government, in disregard of the opposition from the Chinese side, insists on selling such weapons to Taiwan, it will seriously violate the three joint communiques, especially the one signed on August 17, 1982. It will also seriously undermine China's sovereignty, interfere in China's internal affairs, give rise to tension across the Taiwan straits and undermine peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region, she said. |
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