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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US defends weapons sale to Taiwan | US defends weapons sale to Taiwan |
| (5 days later) | |
| The US has defended a proposed weapons sale to Taiwan following a furious response from China. | The US has defended a proposed weapons sale to Taiwan following a furious response from China. |
| The US State Department said on Saturday that the sale contributed to "security and stability" between Taiwan and China, Reuters reported. | The US State Department said on Saturday that the sale contributed to "security and stability" between Taiwan and China, Reuters reported. |
| Beijing announced a series of moves against the US in retaliation for the proposed $6.4bn (£4bn) sale. | Beijing announced a series of moves against the US in retaliation for the proposed $6.4bn (£4bn) sale. |
| Ties between the two countries are already strained by rows over trade and internet censorship. | Ties between the two countries are already strained by rows over trade and internet censorship. |
| ANALYSIS Damian Grammaticas, BBC News, Beijing | ANALYSIS Damian Grammaticas, BBC News, Beijing |
| You would expect China to react angrily to any proposed arms sale to Taiwan, but this time it seems to be going further than before. | You would expect China to react angrily to any proposed arms sale to Taiwan, but this time it seems to be going further than before. |
| Suspending military exchanges is a classic reply from Beijing and it may not even concern the US too much. | Suspending military exchanges is a classic reply from Beijing and it may not even concern the US too much. |
| China's threat to impose sanctions on US firms supplying arms to Taiwan is interesting if perplexing. | China's threat to impose sanctions on US firms supplying arms to Taiwan is interesting if perplexing. |
| It's unclear what "sanctions" would involve in practice, since US firms aren't allowed to sell arms to China | It's unclear what "sanctions" would involve in practice, since US firms aren't allowed to sell arms to China |
| China's threat to withdraw co-operation on key international and regional issues is the most serious one. Here China can make life difficult for Washington. | China's threat to withdraw co-operation on key international and regional issues is the most serious one. Here China can make life difficult for Washington. |
| It can complicate US attempts to deal with nuclear programmes in Iran and North Korea, it can refuse to help in currency and trade issues. | It can complicate US attempts to deal with nuclear programmes in Iran and North Korea, it can refuse to help in currency and trade issues. |
| But what is China trying to achieve by sounding so furious? Maybe Beijing's real aim is to try to deter America from future arms sales - for example the fighter jets and submarines which Taiwan really wants. | But what is China trying to achieve by sounding so furious? Maybe Beijing's real aim is to try to deter America from future arms sales - for example the fighter jets and submarines which Taiwan really wants. |
| "Such sales contribute to maintaining security and stability across the Taiwan Strait," said US State Department spokeswoman Laura Tischler, quoted by Reuters. | "Such sales contribute to maintaining security and stability across the Taiwan Strait," said US State Department spokeswoman Laura Tischler, quoted by Reuters. |
| The US is the leading arms supplier to Taiwan and has a treaty obligation to provide it with defensive arms. | The US is the leading arms supplier to Taiwan and has a treaty obligation to provide it with defensive arms. |
| 'Severe harm' | 'Severe harm' |
| Beijing said it would suspend military exchanges with the US, review co-operation on major issues and impose sanctions on companies selling arms. | Beijing said it would suspend military exchanges with the US, review co-operation on major issues and impose sanctions on companies selling arms. |
| However, the US - like the EU - has banned its companies selling arms to China since the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, so it was not clear what effect Chinese sanctions would have. | However, the US - like the EU - has banned its companies selling arms to China since the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, so it was not clear what effect Chinese sanctions would have. |
| Chinese defence ministry spokesman Huang Xueping said the measures reflected the "severe harm" posed by the deal. | Chinese defence ministry spokesman Huang Xueping said the measures reflected the "severe harm" posed by the deal. |
| A foreign ministry spokesman said the arms deal would have "repercussions that neither side wishes to see". | A foreign ministry spokesman said the arms deal would have "repercussions that neither side wishes to see". |
| Difficult ties | Difficult ties |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Defence ties between Washington and Beijing have been on ice for several years because of differences over Taiwan, though the two countries' leaders pledged to improve them in 2009. | Defence ties between Washington and Beijing have been on ice for several years because of differences over Taiwan, though the two countries' leaders pledged to improve them in 2009. |
| 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 href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7474">Send us your comments | |
| 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. |
| 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 | 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, which Taiwan's military has been seeking. | It does not include F-16 fighter jets, which Taiwan's military has been seeking. |
| 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. |