China slams US selling radar system to Taiwan

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, April 02, 2004

China slams US selling radar system to Taiwan

China expresses strong displeasure and firm opposition to the US approval to sell an early warning radar system to Taiwan, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kong Quan Thursday.

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China expresses strong displeasure and firm opposition to the US approval to sell an early warning radar system to Taiwan, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kong Quan Thursday.

It was reported that the Defense Security Cooperation Agency of the US Department of Defense has approved the sale of the ultra-high frequency early warning radar system to Taiwan.

Such a move seriously violated the principles set forth in the three China-US joint communiques, in particular the Aug. 17 Communique on arms sales between the two countries, Kong told a press conference.

It also sent a wrong signal to the separatist forces seeking Taiwan independence and will lead to further tension in the situation across the Taiwan Strait and sabotage the common interests of China and the United States, Kong stressed.

He reiterated that the Taiwan issue remained the most important and sensitive core issue in China-US relations. "On the Taiwan issue, which is related to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, we show no tolerance to any move that is harmful to China's core interest by any outside force," he said.

China demands the United States cancel relevant wrong decisions so as to avoid sabotaging the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the China-US cooperation, he said.

On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing urged the US to refrain from any official contacts with Taiwan authorities, Xinhua reported.

The United States should adhere to the one-China policy as well as the three joint communiques on bilateral relations and oppose Taiwan independence, said Li when meeting with US Secretary of State Colin Powell in Berlin.

Powell said the US side values its relations China and is willing to make joint efforts with China for the continued bilateral relations, Xinhua reported.

The US Government will continually uphold the one-China policy, abide by the three Sino-US communiques and not support any form of Taiwan independence, he said.

Also Thursday, Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Hi met with the US special envoy for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Joseph Detrani, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The two officials gave positive assessments on the progress made during the second round six-party talks, sources said. They both agreed to start the working group in accordance to the consensus of the talks as soon as possible to prepare for the third round talks.

Answering an inquiry about the US decision on March 22 to collect fingerprints of Chinese people who apply for a US visa, Kong said the United States was told it is "totally unnecessary" to fingerprint Chinese visa applicants though China understands the US concerns about domestic security after the September 11 tragedy.

Although China decided to take countermeasures against the United States on March 30, said Kong, it is "open" to discussion on simplifying procedures on visas, and promoting, personnel exchanges between the two countries.

On Sino-Japanese relations, Kong said the Japanese side should draw on lessons from history.

"The Japanese Government needs to have a serious position and face history squarely as it faces the future."

The Japanese leaders' visits to the Yasukuni Shrine are a reflection of the Japanese Government's stance and attitude toward the war that deeply hurts the emotions of the Chinese people and people in other Asian countries.

"The question of the Yasukuni Shrine is a very serious issue. It concerns an aggressive war waged against Asia," Kong said.

In regard to Diaoyu Islands issue, Kong stressed the islands have been a part of the Chinese territory since ancient times and China has indisputable sovereignty over these islands, according to history and law.

The two countries have differences on the Diaoyu Islands issue, and China has insisted on solving it through peaceful negotiations, Kong said.

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