Taiwan renews bid to buy US arms

US F-16 fighter jet (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/181248.html

Taiwan has announced that it still continues its bid to buy eight submarines and 66 F-16 fighters from the United States.

"The country's position to seek (eight) diesel-powered submarines and F-16C/Ds has never changed," Taiwan's defense ministry said in a statement on Sunday, AFP reported.

"The deal is still in the US government's screening process. The ministry will keep pushing for the deal so as to meet Taiwan's self-defense demands."

Washington approved in 2001 to sell eight conventional submarines to Taiwan as part of the biggest arms package with the island since 1992.

The US has not produced conventional submarine for more than 40 years. Germany and Spain, other builders of submarines, have refused to offer their design to Taiwan, fearing the action would anger China, experts say.

Taiwan also asked for 66 F-16 fighters in 2007, a plan that has since then been stalled.

Taiwan has reportedly decided to agree with a US offer of delivering four submarines to accelerate the process of the deal.

China's Chief of General Staff Chen Bingde said last week that further US arms sales to Taiwan would hurt military relations between Beijing and Washington. He said the US cannot stop China's development using Taiwan.

Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister Thomas Hou said on Thursday that most of US lawmakers have shown support for the implementation of Taiwan Relations Act, a law which obliges the US government to sell defensive weapons to Taiwan.

China stopped defense ties with the US in 2010 when Washington announced plans to sell more than $6 billion worth of weapons to Taiwan.

China condemns Clinton's remarks

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu (Right), Hillary Clinton (Left)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/179905.html

The Chinese foreign ministry has strongly criticized US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her comments about Beijing's human rights record.

Earlier this week, Clinton denounced China's clampdown on dissents as a "fool's errand" and accused Beijing of trying to stop the course of history.

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Jiang Yu hit back and said Clinton's remarks were inappropriate.

"It is inappropriate for anyone to relate or compare China to some west Asian and north African nations facing turmoil," Jiang said in a statement on the ministry's website.

"And any attempt to direct the Middle East turmoil to China and change the development path chosen by the Chinese people will be futile," she added

Clinton's comments have also sparked criticism among the Chinese.

An online poll shows that 86 percent of the people feel Clinton has disrespected their country.

The developments come as relations between Beijing and Washington have been deteriorating over a number of issues, including currency debates and the Pentagon's arms sales to Taiwan.

China has reduced its military cooperation with the Pentagon over the 6.4-billion-dollar US arms sales to Taiwan. China considers the island as part of its territory.

China 'extending military reach'

Beijing has been critical of similar reports in the past, 
saying they hurt bilateral relations [EPA]

Source: Al Jazeera
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/08/201081733121585238.html

China has increased spending on its military and expanded the reach of its military operations abroad, according to a new report from the US defence department.

The report (pdf), an annual study sent to the US congress, estimated China's military spending in 2009 at $150bn, an increase of roughly 7.5 per cent from the previous year.

Some of China's expanded military efforts have been positive, the report found.

"Some of these missions and associated capabilities have allowed the [Chinese army] to contribute to international peacekeeping efforts, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief," the report said. "[But] others appear designed to improve the [army's] ability for extended-range power projection."

Taiwan remains a particular area of focus. The Chinese army upgraded many of the more than 1,000 short-range missiles aimed across the Taiwan Strait, the report found.

"China continues to deploy many of its most advanced systems to the military regions opposite Taiwan," it said.

But China has also expanded its military operations beyond its immediate territory, like carrying out anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden.

'Dangerous Risk'

The study also said that China has an active program to build aircraft carriers, and that construction on the first one could begin later this year. It also reported that China plans to expand its fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

The report concluded that "many uncertainties remain regarding how China will use its expanding military capabilities".

Ike Skelton, the chairman of the armed services committee in the US house of representatives, called for greater transparency from the Chinese army.

The lack of communication raises "a dangerous risk that miscommunication and misperception between the US and China could lead to a miscalculation," Skelton said in a statement.

China has not yet commented on the report. But Beijing sharply criticized a similar report last year, saying it had a "baneful influence" on ties between the US and China.

Diplomatic ties between the two countries have been strained for several months: China froze military relations with the US in January after Washington announced a sale of helicopters, missiles and other military gear to Taiwan.

Despite the rapid growth, China's military spending remains just a small fraction of the US defense budget, which this year topped $660bn.

US demands Chinese action on yuan

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=123825§ionid=3510213


A top US lawmaker has threatened China with trade measures by Washington if Beijing does not raise the value of its currency yuan.

Amid speculations about an ensuing trade war, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander Levin says the Obama administration will try to gain global support to pressure China to revalue its currency.

"If it doesn't work, the US will act. I have no doubt about it. I think the administration will act and I think the Congress will act," the Democratic congressman from Michigan said on Monday.

The warning came a weak after Chinese President Hu Jintao told President Barack Obama that the value of the yuan will neither balance Sino-US trade, nor solve America's unemployment problem. Hu reiterated that China will firmly stick to its own path for yuan's reform.

American industry groups have filed a petition saying China is subsidizing its aluminum exporters by depreciating its currency.

They have asked for steep duties on Chinese imports as well, although the US Commerce Department has declined to probe into similar complaints in 10 previous cases.

The Department says it was nearing a decision on Chinese currency probe.

Levin also gave China an ultimatum to increase the value of its currency before the Group of 20 summit meeting in Canada at the end of June or face further measures.

Beijing has frozen the yuan's exchange rate against the dollar since mid-2008.

Beijing's decision not to deviate from its strategy comes in response to market volatility experienced during the global financial crisis and ongoing uncertainty in international markets.

China firm on suspending US ties

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=119441§ionid=351020404


Amid strained China-US ties over Washington's sale of arms to Taiwan, China has urged the US to be cautious to prevent more damage.

"China demands that the US speak and act cautiously to avoid causing further damage to relations between the two countries," Huang Xueping, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, said on Thursday.

He also noted that Beijing would not reverse its decision to suspend bilateral military plans with Washington.

"China's decision to suspend planned China-US military visits has not changed."

The tension between the two countries emerged after the US announced in January that it would sell $6.4 billion of arms to Taiwan.

The deal included Patriot missiles, Black Hawk helicopters and equipment for Taiwan's F-16 fleet.

China, which views Taiwan as part of its territory, reacted to Washington's move by imposing sanctions on US companies involved in the military agreement.

The Pentagon said earlier on Wednesday that Beijing also postponed several high-profile military exchanges with Washington.

A number of other issues such as US President Barack Obama's meeting with the exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama, and Google's claims of being targeted by cyber attacks in China have worsened ties between the two major powers.

Xueping's remarks, reported by the Xinhua news agency, indicates China has not put aside the public ire with Washington, despite allowing a US aircraft carrier to visit Hong Kong last week.

China suspends military ties with US

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=117442&sectionid=351020404

China suspends military exchanges with the US and threatens to impose sanctions on US arms companies over a Washington decision to sell weapons to Taiwan.

China's Defense Ministry suspended military exchange visits with the US, saying the suspension was "in consideration of the serious harm and impacts [of the 6.4-billion-dollar US-Taiwan arms deal] on Sino-US military relations."

Chinese Foreign Ministry also threatened to impose sanctions on US firms that sell weapons to Taiwan amid straining relations between Washington and Beijing.

"China will also impose corresponding sanctions on US companies that engage in weapons sales to Taiwan," the ministry said on Saturday.

"The United States must be responsible for the serious repercussions if it does not immediately reverse the mistaken decision to sell Taiwan weapons," Chinese deputy Foreign Minister He Yafei told the US ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman.

The arms sale includes Black Hawk helicopters, Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles, mine hunter ships and information technology.

US Congress has 30 days to comment before the plan goes forward. Lawmakers traditionally have supported such sales.

Saturday's measure is the second such suspension, since the former Bush administration in 2008 announced a multibillion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan.

Relations between the two countries have been strained as President Barack Obama plans to meet with the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, later this year.

More complications could affect President Hu Jintao's expected visit to the US this year, as well as talks on human rights that Obama and Hu had agreed to continue, a Press TV correspondent reported.

Arms sale to Taiwan will cost US dear, says China

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=117389&sectionid=351020404

China has threatened the US with "serious" consequences over a Washington decision to sell USD 6.4 billion worth of weapons to Taiwan.

The arms package includes Patriot missiles, Black Hawk helicopters, and communications equipment for Taiwan's F-16 fleet. However, it does not include the fighter jet itself, which had been part of Taipei's wish list, AFP reported on Friday.

After US announced the arms sale to Taiwan, Beijing quickly responded with a warning that the arms sale could jeopardize important bonds of cooperation between the two countries and can have "serious" consequences.

"The US plan will definitely undermine China-US relations and bring about serious negative impact on exchange and cooperation in major areas between the two countries," a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, Wang Baodong said.

Baodong urged the United States to halt the planned sales, saying that otherwise "this will lead to repercussions that neither side wishes to see."

The last US arms package for Taiwan, announced under previous president George W. Bush in October 2008, led China to temporarily snap off military relations with the United States.
--------------------------------------
2010 Jan 26

US approves Taiwan arms sale



Source: Al Jazeera
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/01/201012653823775265.html

The Obama administration has reportedly approved a multi-billion dollar arms package for Taiwan, in a move that threatens to test relations between Washington and Beijing.

The Associated Press quoting senior US congressional aides said on Monday that the package will likely include Black Hawk helicopters, Patriot missiles and communications equipment.

According to the report, the White House has been consulting with Congress about Taiwan's defence needs ahead of a formal announcement of the sale at a yet undetermined date.

However, the package will reportedly exclude F-16 fighter jets that Taiwan has sought to buy in order to modernize its air force, with aides saying it would be "too provocative" to the Chinese.

A Taiwan diplomatic source was quoted in The Washington Times as saying the F-16s were needed to replace ageing warplanes.

The new deal is part of an $11bn arms package first offered in 2001 under George Bush, the former US president, and which has been provided in stages because of political and budgetary considerations in Taiwan and the United States.

The US awarded a contract worth nearly $970m to Lockheed Martin for the provision of air defence missiles and another worth over $1bn to Raytheon Co for the production of patriot missiles for Taiwan, according to a New York Times report earlier this month.

Renegade province

The latest sale had been widely expected, with Beijing warning of an impact on ties with Washington and reiterating earlier this month its objection to any deal.

China announced on January 12 the successful test of its interceptor missile as part of its advanced air defence capabilities, a move experts say was an indirect reaction to the weapons sale.

Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province and has vowed to bring the island eventually back under mainland rule, by force if necessary.

The US government, on the other hand, is bound by the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act which obliges Washington to ensure the island is capable of responding to Chinese threats, and to sell defensive weapons to it.

In a report to Congress last year the Pentagon said China's military build-up includes development of new advanced ballistic and cruise missiles that would be used against US forces if they were to defend Taiwan against attacks from the mainland.

In 2008, China suspended most military dialogue with Washington after the Bush administration approved a $6.5bn arms package to Taiwan that included guided missiles and attack helicopters.

China warns US about arms sales to Taiwan

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=115690&sectionid=351020404

China has objected to the US plans to sell missile equipment to Taiwan, urging Washington to abandon the move as it would undermine trust between the US and Chinese militaries.

"The US arms sales to Taiwan infringe upon China's security interest[s] as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and interfere with China's internal affairs," Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement on Saturday.

The reaction follows the US Defense Department's approval of the sale of Patriot missile equipment to Taiwan despite opposition to the move by China.

The Pentagon in October 2008 notified Congress of $6.5bn in arms sales to Taiwan.

The deal will allow weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp. to sell Taiwan over 250 advanced Patriot missiles.

Taiwan estimates that China has up to 1,500 missiles aimed at the self-ruled island, which Beijing claims as its own.

The latest Chinese Foreign Ministry statement came hours after China's Defense Ministry issued a separate warning that it reserved the right to take unspecified further action if Washington followed through with the plan.

"The US side clings obstinately to the Bush administration's plan of arms sales to Taiwan, which severely undermines the mutual trust between the two militaries," said Defense Ministry Spokesman Huang Xueping in an official statement.

He added that China urges the United States "to sever military links with Taiwan, in order to avoid further damaging relations between the two countries and the two militaries and the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."