Foreign and Military Affairs

Commentary: Arms sale jeopardizes overall China-US co-op

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-31 08:52

WASHINGTON: Ignoring repeated solemn representations made by China, the US government on Friday notified Congress of its nearly $6.4 billion arms sale package to Taiwan.

The sale is a wrong decision, which not only undermines China's national security interests and her national unification cause, but also once again hurts the national feelings of the Chinese people.

Moreover, it also will cause serious damage to the overall cooperation and relationship between China and the United States.

Frankly speaking, US arms sales to Taiwan have become a chronic disease that has been disturbing China-US ties for a long period of time.

In the August 17 Communique jointly issued by China and the United States in 1982, the US said clearly it intended to gradually reduce the sale of arms to Taiwan both in quality and quantity, leading to a final termination of such sales.

Although those words are crystal clear, this time the US once again stubbornly made a wrong decision to plan a new arms sale to Taiwan, seriously violating the principles of three Sino-US joint communiques, especially those of the August 17 Communique.

Such an act violently interferes in China's internal affairs, seriously undermines China's national security and her national unification cause, and thus inevitably casts a shadow on China-US relations.

The Taiwan issue is closely related to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, her core national interests, and the national feelings of the 1.3 billion Chinese people.

The China-US Joint Statement points out that "the fundamental principle of respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity is at the core of the three Sino-US joint communiques that guide China-US relations.

"Neither side supports any attempt by any force to undermine this principle. The two sides agreed that respecting each other's core interests is extremely important to ensure steady progress in China-US relations."

The words are still echoing but the US government broke the promise and acted in a way that seriously undermines the core interests of China.

As a result, it is totally reasonable to suspect the sincerity of US pledges on "respecting each other's core interests."

With efforts made by compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, recent years have witnessed more frequent cross-Strait dialogues and exchanges, and closer cross-Strait economic and trade relations.

The cross-Strait relationship has started to walk on a path of positive interaction.

The US has said repeatedly that peace between both sides of the Taiwan Strait is "in the interests of the United States" and it welcomes peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.

It has also said, many times, that it hopes both sides of the Taiwan Strait strengthen their dialogues and interactions in economic, politics and other areas and establish a more positive and stable relationship.

However, while the entire picture of the cross-Strait relations became brighter, the US made a new decision on an arms sale to Taiwan.

The decision not only runs counter to the mainstream will of pursuing development and cooperation among the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, but also exposes the US usage of double standards and hypocrisy on major issues related to China's core interests.

China and the United States, both world powers, have broad common interests and important responsibilities in a series of major issues related to peace and development of each nation and all mankind.

Despite all the ups and downs over the past 30 years, the overall China-US relationship has maintained forward-moving development, while common interests and cooperation between the two countries have continuously expanded.

That not only brought concrete benefits to the peoples of both nations, but also contributed to world peace and development.

Obviously, the current good situation in China-US relations is a result of no easy effort, and both nations need to take extra care of it.

The global financial situation has been improved, but uncertainties remain.

It requires China, the United States and the international community as a whole to make continuous efforts in a coordinated way.

China-US cooperation is indispensable in solving counter-terrorism, nuclear nonproliferation, climate change and other major international and regional security issues.

The age of our times needs healthy, stable and developing China-US ties.

Defying such a historic trend and making such a wrong decision that undermines China's core interests and the overall situation of China-US cooperation, can't be viewed as a wise action by any responsible government, no matter if it was influenced by residue of the Cold War mentality or the pressure of certain special interests.

China recently has made several solemn representations to the American government on the arms sale issue, asking the US to fully assess the serious damage caused by the sale and to take China's concerns seriously and stop the transaction.

Otherwise, the sale will cause seriously negative effects on China-US exchanges and cooperation in important areas, and ultimately will lead to consequences that neither side wishes to see.

If the US continues to ignore the solemn position made by China and is determined to make the wrong decision to sell arms to Taiwan, it ought to take all the responsibilities for any serious consequence caused by such a decision.