From combined dispatches
BEIJING — China yesterday cautioned the United States against sending the “wrong message” to Taiwan after the Pentagon approved the sale of a $1.7 billion early warning radar system to the self-ruled island.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan at a regular news briefing didn’t comment directly on the sale but said, “We’ve always objected to the United States selling advanced weapons to Taiwan.
“We will urge the U.S. to stand by its commitments rather than send the wrong message to the Taiwanese authorities,” Mr. Kong said.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and objects to foreign weapons sales to its government. The United States has no formal relations with the island but is its biggest arms supplier and is committed by law to help it defend itself. A Pentagon statement said Wednesday the sale of the long-range radar system that would detect ballistic or cruise missiles would not affect the regional military balance — a key issue for Washington, which wants to avoid an arms race.
Beijing plans to “seek clarification” from the American government, Mr. Kong said.
China, however, has been suspected of supplying similar radar systems to various countries in the past. For instance, The Washington Times reported in July 2002, citing U.S. intelligence officials, that Chinese companies were working in Iran in 2001 on a new advanced air-defense system near the border with Afghanistan.
Also yesterday, China said it called on the United States to avoid official contact with Taiwan.
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, meeting with Secretary of State Colin L. Powell in Berlin the previous day, urged Washington to “oppose Taiwan independence,” the official Xinhua news agency said.
Mr. Li insisted that Taiwan’s presidential elections last month “have not changed the fact that Taiwan is part of China,” Xinhua said. It reported that the foreign minister urged Washington to “refrain from any official contact with the Taiwan authorities.”
Taiwan and the mainland split in 1949. Beijing has threatened war if the island takes formal steps toward independence. It has hundreds of missiles aimed at the island.
Mr. Li said Taiwan is “the most sensitive and important question” in Beijing’s ties with the United States, Xinhua reported.
The news agency said Mr. Powell agreed to stick to Washington’s “one-China policy … and not support any form of Taiwan independence.”
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