China on Friday slammed the possible sale of advanced US-built
air-to-air missiles to Taiwan. "We firmly oppose any country
interfering in China's internal affairs, or selling weapons to
Taiwan under any excuse," a foreign ministry spokeswoman in Beijing
said.
"China has made solemn representations many times to the US side
over the provision of US weapons to Taiwan."
The spokeswoman said that it hoped Washington would end arms sales
"in order to avoid damage to the common interests of the two
countries and the Sino-American relationship."
A
US defence official said that the United States was considering
delivering 120 AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles
(AMRAAM) to Taiwan.
The issue of US arms sales to Taiwan is a constant irritant between
China and the US.
Last year US announced a most comprehensive arms package for Taiwan
in almost a decade, including four Kidd-class destroyers, eight
diesel submarines and 12 P-3C submarine-hunting aircraft, arosing
strong protest from China.
(China Daily July 6,
2002)