Read and compare articles, opinions and analyses gathered from the best news sources around the globe.
Apache helicopters are included in the deal. (Image: Wikipedia/United States Army)
Latest world viewpoints
China-US relations: A delicate balance
"The United States should immediately take actions to correct its mistakes [...] so as to prevent further damage to the Sino-U.S. relations and the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait." Liu Jianchao on CRI Nordic.
"The final decision of the U.S. executive branch reflected a prudent and rational decision. It should be understood by Beijing and welcomed by Taipei." Alexander Huang on AP
The sensitive relationship between two of the world's biggest military powers, the US and China, took another dent when the former announced its plans to sell 6.5 billion dollars worth of weapons to Taiwan. In reaction to what China calls gross interference in its internal affairs, it canceled and postponed a number of diplomatic and military exchanges with the offender.
China expressed strong disapproval over an announcement by the US last week to sell advanced interceptor missiles, Apache helicopters and submarine-launched missiles to Taiwan, which it considers an inalienable part of its territory. The American side should take full responsibility for the damage to bilateral ties, foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told Xinhua. Ni Lexiong from the Shanghai National Defense Institute says that China, which has been enthusiastic about the development of China-US ties, is dismayed by the defiant move, the Los Angeles Times reports. The BBC points out that the US is Taiwan's largest arms supplier.
The US approval of the deal has been viewed as a sign of restoration of balance in the region: "China had profited from a rupture in U.S.-Taiwan military relations, but with the announcement of the deal, that rupture has now been repaired," AP says. China and the US have also recently taken steps to strengthen their military cooperation. Earlier this year, the two countries signed a deal to establish a long-planned military hotline to allow defense officials instant contact in emergencies, The Wall Street Journal says. How many more blows can the relationship withstand before the balance is lost?
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| China | Europe | North-America | From elsewhere |
|---|---|---|---|
| China Denounces U.S. Proposed Arms Sale to Taiwan CRI Nordic - 4th October 2008 China on Saturday denounced the U.S. government's decision to sell arms worth of about 6.5 billion U.S. dollars to Taiwan. U.S. continues to evaluate Taiwan's other weapon requests: official Taiwan News - 7th October 2008 The U.S. government is "faithfully implementing" the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and will continue to evaluate two other pending arms sales to Taiwan, a U.S. State Department official said. China's defense ministry express strong indignation over U.S. proposed arms sale to Taiwan Xinhua - 5th October 2008 China's Defense Ministry on Saturday expressed strong indignation and firm objection to the U.S. government's decision to sell arms worth of about 6.5 billion U.S. dollars to Taiwan. Chinese FM: U.S. to blame for damage of bilateral relations Xinhua - 7th October 2008 The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday renewed its condemnation on the United States' proposed arms sale to Taiwan and said the American side should take full responsibility for the damage of ties between the two countries and their respective armed forces. |
China cancels US military contact BBC - 6th October 2008 China has cancelled military and diplomatic exchanges with the US in protest at a $6.5bn deal to supply Taiwan with arms, US officials say. US to sell $6bn in arms to Taiwan BBC - 3rd October 2008 The US government has notified Congress of plans to supply Taiwan with arms worth more than $6bn (£3.4bn). China again slams U.S. arms sale to Taiwan Reuters - 7th October 2008 A $6.5 billion deal to sell U.S. arms to Taiwan has ruined years of work building military trust with China, threatens Beijing's safety and ignores international law, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. China cancels, postpones military exchanges with US: Pentagon AFP - 7th October 2008 China has canceled or postponed several military exchanges with the United States in protest against a proposed 6.5 billion dollar arms sale to Taiwan, a Pentagon spokesman has said. |
China again slams U.S. arms sale to Taiwan Financial Times - 8th October 2008 John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, on Tuesday urged the Bush administration to reconsider a decision not to sell F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan. Pentagon Feels Chill Set In With China As Beijing Reacts to U.S.-Taiwan Deal The Wall Street Journal - 8th October 2008 China's decision to halt military contacts with the U.S. to protest proposed weapons sales to Taiwan puts the brakes on efforts to improve relations between the Pentagon and Beijing's defense establishment. China cancels visit over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan Los Angeles Times - 7th October 2008 Beijing also shelves other military and diplomatic contacts with Washington to protest an announced $6.5-billion sale of defensive weapons to Taiwan, Pentagon and State Department officials say. China nixes U.S. meetings over Taiwan arms deal CNN - 6th October 2008 China has canceled or postponed several military exchanges with the U.S. in reaction to last week's announcement that the U.S. is selling weapons to Taiwan, a Defense Department spokesman said. |
China backlash at Taiwan arms sale Al Jazeera News - 7th October 2008 China has cancelled or put on hold several planned military exchanges with the United States as part of a backlash against a planned multi-billion dollar US arms sale to Taiwan, US officials have said. China Tells U.S. To Drop Arms Sales To Taiwan Barnama, Malaysia - 7th October 2008 China told the United States on Tuesday to drop plans to sell military weapons to Taiwan, slamming the act as "gravely jeopardising" China's national security and its ties with Washington. China snaps diplomatic, military contacts with US Press Trust of India - 10th October 2008 China today cancelled its planned military and diplomatic contacts with the United States, accusing the Bush administration of "poisoning" the atmosphere which led to the latest stand-off. Anger in China over US arms plan for Taiwan ABC Radio Australia - 7th October 2008 China has responded angrily to an American proposal to sell $US6.5 billion worth of weapons to Taiwan. |
