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US-Taiwan arms plans anger China US-Taiwan arms plans anger China
(40 minutes later)
China has expressed its outrage over a proposed US weapons sale to Taiwan, worth $6.4bn (£4bn), including helicopters and missiles. China has expressed its anger over a proposed US weapons sale to Taiwan worth $6.4bn (£4bn), which includes helicopters and defensive missiles.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei said the move would have a "serious negative impact" on co-operation between the US and China. Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister He Yafei said the move would have a "serious negative impact" on co-operation between the US and China.
Ties between China and the US are already strained by rows over trade and internet censorship. Ties are already strained by rows over trade and internet censorship.
Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province of China. Taiwan and China have been ruled by separate governments since the end of a civil war in 1949.
Taiwan and China have been ruled by separate governments since 1949 after a civil war. Beijing has hundreds of missiles pointed at the island and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control if Taiwan moved towards formal independence.
Beijing has hundreds of missiles pointed at the island and has threatened in the past to use force to bring it under its control.
Strained relationsStrained relations
US Taiwan arms plan announcedUS Taiwan arms plan announced
Mr He said the arms deal would have "repercussions that neither side wishes to see".
"The United States' announcement of the planned weapons sales to Taiwan will have a seriously negative impact on many important areas of exchanges and co-operation between the two countries," Mr He said in a statement published on the foreign ministry website."The United States' announcement of the planned weapons sales to Taiwan will have a seriously negative impact on many important areas of exchanges and co-operation between the two countries," Mr He said in a statement published on the foreign ministry website.
"This will lead to repercussions that neither side wishes to see," he said, urging Washington to halt the planned sale. The statement came after China summoned US Ambassador Jon Huntsman to give a warning about the consequences of the deal and to urge its immediate cancellation.
The statement came after Mr He summoned US Ambassador Jon Huntsman to give a warning about the consequences of the deal and to urge its immediate cancellation. The Pentagon earlier notified the US Congress of the proposed arms sale, which forms part of a package first pledged by the Bush administration.
The Pentagon earlier notified the US Congress of the proposed arms sale, which included helicopters and Patriot anti-missile defences. PROPOSED ARMS SALE 114 Patriot missiles ($2.81bn)60 Black Hawk helicopters ($3.1bn)Communication equipment ($340m)2 Osprey mine-hunting ships ($105m)12 Harpoon missiles ($37m) Source: Defense Security Co-operation Agency
The weapons are part of a package first pledged by the Bush administration.
Friday's notification to Congress by the Defense Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) was required by law. It does not mean the sale has been concluded.Friday's notification to Congress by the Defense Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) was required by law. It does not mean the sale has been concluded.
US lawmakers have 30 days to comment on the proposed sale, Associated Press reported. If there are no objections, it would proceed.US lawmakers have 30 days to comment on the proposed sale, Associated Press reported. If there are no objections, it would proceed.
PROPOSED ARMS SALE 114 Patriot missiles ($2.81bn)60 Black Hawk helicopters ($3.1bn)Communication equipment ($340m)2 Osprey mine-hunting ships ($105m)12 Harpoon missiles ($37m) Source: Defense Security Co-operation Agency
The arms package includes 114 Patriot missiles, 60 Black Hawk helicopters and communications equipment for Taiwan's F-16 fleet, the agency said in a statement.The arms package includes 114 Patriot missiles, 60 Black Hawk helicopters and communications equipment for Taiwan's F-16 fleet, the agency said in a statement.
It does not include F-16 fighter jets, an item highly desired by Taiwan's military. It does not include F-16 fighter jets, which Taiwan's military has been seeking.
Beijing has previously warned the US not to go ahead with arms sales to Taiwan. Ties between China and the US are already strained by rows over trade and internet censorship. The BBC's Damian Grammaticas in Beijing says the deal has been in the pipeline for a long time and is nearing its conclusion, but China does want to stop it.
Beijing has previously warned the US not to go ahead with arms sales to Taiwan.
Ties between China and the US are already strained by rows over trade and internet censorship.
TAIWAN-CHINA RELATIONS Ruled by separate governments since end of Chinese civil war in 1949 China considers the island part of its territoryChina has offered a "one country, two systems" solution, like Hong KongMost people in Taiwan support status quo Guide to Taiwan flashpoint
Last week US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton angered Beijing with a call to China to investigate cyber attacks on search giant Google, after the company said email accounts of human rights activists had been hacked.
The DSCA said the proposed sale would support Taiwan's "continuing efforts to modernise its armed forces and enhance its defensive capability."The DSCA said the proposed sale would support Taiwan's "continuing efforts to modernise its armed forces and enhance its defensive capability."
It added: "The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region."It added: "The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region."
The US is the leading arms supplier to Taiwan, despite switching diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979.The US is the leading arms supplier to Taiwan, despite switching diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979.
Washington regards it as an obligation to provide Taiwan with defensive arms.