China cancels military contacts with US

[leobold1]

China cancels military contacts with US

Oct 6 03:51 PM US/Eastern
By PAULINE JELINEK and MATTHEW LEE
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - China has abruptly canceled a series of military and diplomatic contacts with the United States to protest a planned $6.5 billion package of U.S. arms sale to Taiwan, American officials told The Associated Press on Monday.

Beijing has notified the U.S. that it will not go forward with several senior level visits and other cooperative military-to-military plans, said Marine Maj. Stewart Upton, a Defense Department spokesman.

"In response to Friday's announcement of Taiwan arms sales, the People's Republic of China canceled or postponed several upcoming military-to-military exchanges," Upton said, lamenting that "China's continued politicization of our military relationship results in missed opportunities."

The Chinese action will not affect the country's participation with the United States in six-nation talks aimed at getting North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons or its participation in the international effort on Iran's nuclear program, U.S. officials said.

But it does include the cancellation of an upcoming U.S. visit by a senior Chinese general, other similar trips, several port calls by naval vessels and the indefinite postponement of meetings on stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction, the officials said.

"It's an unfortunate step," said deputy State Department spokesman Robert Wood.

Beijing is furious with the U.S. decision to sell Taiwan the huge $6.5 billion package of advanced weaponry and military items, including guided missiles and attack helicopters. China, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province, says the sale interferes with internal Chinese affairs and harms its national security.

"The Chinese government and the Chinese people strongly oppose and object to the U.S. government's actions, which harm Chinese interests and Sino-U.S. relations," its foreign ministry said in a statement Saturday, adding that U.S. diplomats had been summoned to hear a strong protest.

China's Ambassador to the United States, Zhou Wenzhong, was expected to register a similar protest about the arms sale on Monday with the State Department. A Chinese Embassy spokesman in Washington said it would be "only natural" for the ambassador to lodge the protest.

Upton said the sale does not represent a change in U.S. policy and that Washington is only upholding the provisions of the Taiwan Relations Act under which the U.S. makes available items necessary for Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self defense.

Taiwan relies on U.S. weapons to keep pace with China's massive arms buildup across the Taiwan Strait. U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are a crucial matter because any dispute between China and Taiwan could ensnare the United States.

Washington is Taiwan's most important ally and largest arms supplier.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Friday that it had notified the U.S. Congress of plans to sell up to $6.5 billion in advanced weaponry to Taiwan. Under procedures for such foreign military sales, the deal would proceed if no lawmaker voices an objection within 30 days of the notification.

Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory and has threatened to invade should the self-governing island ever formalize its de facto independence.

___

Associated Press writer Foster Klug contributed to this report.

[Shooterman]

Well, at least they haven't cut off the lending. You ain't seen a financial storm.

By the way, does anyone remember why we get all in a huff about Taiwan? If the Chinese over ran it tomorrow, would the world come to a halt? Yeah, we'd lose a contract to furnish arms to them, but so what? Seriously, does anyone remember what that bruhaha was all about?

Just a small reminder. Chiang Kai Chek was a Chinese war lord, that got his ass kicked by Mao and the Commies. He moved what was left of his army to Taiwan, and naturally, being the good guys ( mostly, I believe wanting to tweak Mao and Uncle Joe's noses ) we decided we would be their protector. Kinda sounds like in another part of the world, doesn't it. That's been about 60 years. While true, we fought the Japs alongside the Chinese, we did so because we had a common enemy. Time to let the Taiwanese sink or swim on their own in my opinion. The coins if the realm are spread damnably thin as it is.

[leobold1]

One problem with that.

Take a look around your house. In an average house, 30-40% of the products in the average American's house is made in Taiwan.

It wouldn't be a little bump, it would be a lack of American purchasing with few things to replace them.

[KBay84]

"Time to let the Taiwanese sink or swim on their own in my opinion."

Time to let South Korea sink or swim....

Time to let Japan Sink or swim...

Time to let Okinawa sink or swim...

Time to let Germany sink or swim...

Time to let Iraq sink or swim...

Time to let Afghanistan sink or swim...

Time to let world stability SINK OR SWIM....

Ron Paul is a quack

[Shooterman]

Originally Posted by KBay84

[b]

"Time to let the Taiwanese sink or swim on their own in my opinion." that is my opinion. Hell, Chiang has been feeding the worms a long time.

Time to let South Korea sink or swim....After 55 years, yeah I think so. Wasn't much there worth losing the casualties we did to start with.

Time to let Japan Sink or swim...After 60+ years, yeppers

Time to let Okinawa sink or swim... Same as Japan

Time to let Germany sink or swim... Same as Japan

Time to let Iraq sink or swim...Not now, we broke it, best fix it if it can be fixed.

Time to let Afghanistan sink or swim...An honest war at last.

Time to let world stability SINK OR SWIM....

How much debt do we saddle our great grand kids with? That, my friend, is immoral.

Ron Paul is a quack ...opinions are like butt holes, every one has them and most stink.

[Sally Brown]

Time for Americans to sink or swim - and that means being the production back home.

Time to let the rest of the world sink or swim on their own because feeding a man a fish DOES NOT teach him to fish for himself. Our missions in each of these places was to help emerging/struggling democracies. Either we have succeeded or not. It's time to see if these nations are still needing baby pablum or ready for real meat. I agree with you Shooterman.

AND FOR GOODNESS SAKE, STOP BUYING STUFF THAT SAYS MADE IN TAIWAN AND INSTEAD LOOK FOR THE MADE IN THE UNITED STATES LABEL. It's time that we either sink or swim, too!

[leobold1]

Sally, there are no TVs made by American companies. Most American cars are 75%+ manufactured overseas. Few electronics are made by American companies. There's 85% of American purchases.

Its not that we have to "Buy American", that I agree with 150%. We have to first "Make American". We need the manufacturing capacity, and right now we don't have anything near that.