The Hindu : International : China raps U.S. on Taiwan arms sale

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 31, 2004

International

International

China raps U.S. on Taiwan arms sale

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE, DEC. 30. Reaffirming a policy of peaceful development, China has criticised the U.S. for its continuous arms sales to Taiwan. In a white paper on national defence, , China left the door open for an absolutely conditional "establishment of a confidence-building mechanism in the military field" on the non-sovereign territory of Taiwan.

The policy is in line with Beijing's recent assurances about its "peaceful ascendance" on the international stage. It is acquiring as much prominence as the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. The white paper on "China's National Defence in 2004," the fifth in a series since 1995, said Beijing would pose "no obstacle or threat to anyone."

Wrong signal

On the politics of the U.S.-China relations, it noted that Washington's arms supplies to Taiwan were increasing both quantitatively and qualitatively despite the repeated American commitments to adhere to the `One China' policy. The U.S. action "is sending a wrong signal to the Taiwan authorities" and also "does not serve a stable situation across the Taiwan Straits".

The paper said "the separatist activities of the `Taiwan independence' forces have increasingly become the biggest immediate threat to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as peace and stability on both sides of the Taiwan Straits and the Asia Pacific region as a whole."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International