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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| China hits back at US-Taiwan sale | China hits back at US-Taiwan sale |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| China has announced a series of moves against the US in retaliation for a proposed weapons sale to Taiwan worth $6.4bn (£4bn). | China has announced a series of moves against the US in retaliation for a proposed weapons sale to Taiwan worth $6.4bn (£4bn). |
| Beijing said it would suspend military exchanges with the US, impose sanctions on companies selling arms, and review co-operation on major issues. | Beijing said it would suspend military exchanges with the US, impose sanctions on companies selling arms, and review co-operation on major issues. |
| Ties are already strained by rows over trade and internet censorship. | Ties are already strained by rows over trade and internet censorship. |
| Taiwan's president welcomed the sale, saying it would make his country "more confident and secure". | Taiwan's president welcomed the sale, saying it would make his country "more confident and secure". |
| 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 to use force to bring it under its control if Taiwan moved towards formal independence. |
| 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 the end of a civil war in 1949. |
| Strained relations | Strained relations |
| The BBC's Damian Grammaticas in Beijing says China's latest moves are what the US would have expected, as the US view is that military exchanges are of limited use. | The BBC's Damian Grammaticas in Beijing says China's latest moves are what the US would have expected, as the US view is that military exchanges are of limited use. |
| US Taiwan arms plan announced | US Taiwan arms plan announced |
| China's Xinhua state news agency quoted the defence ministry as saying: "Considering the severe harm and odious effect of US arms sales to Taiwan, the Chinese side has decided to suspend planned mutual military visits." | China's Xinhua state news agency quoted the defence ministry as saying: "Considering the severe harm and odious effect of US arms sales to Taiwan, the Chinese side has decided to suspend planned mutual military visits." |
| "We strongly demand that the US respect the Chinese side's interests", it added, calling for the sale to be stopped. | "We strongly demand that the US respect the Chinese side's interests", it added, calling for the sale to be stopped. |
| The foreign ministry, meanwhile, said it would impose sanctions on US companies selling weapons to Taiwan, and that co-operation on major international issues would be affected. | The foreign ministry, meanwhile, said it would impose sanctions on US companies selling weapons to Taiwan, and that co-operation on major international issues would be affected. |
| Our correspondent says it is not clear what impact such sanctions might have. | Our correspondent says it is not clear what impact such sanctions might have. |
| Xinhua also said the US defence attache had been summoned. | Xinhua also said the US defence attache had been summoned. |
| Defence ties between the two countries have been difficult for several years because of differences over Taiwan, but the two countries' leaders pledged to improve them in 2009. | Defence ties between the two countries have been difficult for several years because of differences over Taiwan, but the two countries' leaders pledged to improve them in 2009. |
| 'More confident' | 'More confident' |
| The moves came after Mr He said the arms deal would have "repercussions that neither side wishes to see". | The moves came after 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. |
| Earlier China summoned US Ambassador Jon Huntsman to give a warning about the consequences of the deal and to urge its immediate cancellation. | Earlier China summoned US Ambassador Jon Huntsman to give a warning about the consequences of the deal and to urge its immediate cancellation. |
| Taiwan, meanwhile, welcomed the US move. | Taiwan, meanwhile, welcomed the US move. |
| "It will let Taiwan feel more confident and secure so we can have more interactions with China," the Central News Agency quoted President Ma Ying-jeou as saying. | "It will let Taiwan feel more confident and secure so we can have more interactions with China," the Central News Agency quoted President Ma Ying-jeou as saying. |
| 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 forms part of a package first pledged by the Bush administration. |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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. |
| 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, which Taiwan's military has been seeking. | It does not include F-16 fighter jets, which Taiwan's military has been seeking. |
| Our correspondent says the deal has been in the pipeline for a long time and is nearing its conclusion, but China does want to stop it. | Our correspondent 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. | Beijing has previously warned the US not to go ahead with arms sales to Taiwan. |
| 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 | 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. | 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. | Washington regards it as an obligation to provide Taiwan with defensive arms. |