| Military links with Pentagon affected author： |
| link www.people.com.cn, Sep,29,2011.: |
| China-US military exchanges and joint drills will be disrupted by Washington's announcement of a US$5.85 billion arms package for Taiwan, China's Defense Ministry said yesterday. Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng told a press briefing: "In light of the serious damage resulting from the US arms sale to Taiwan, planned China-US military exchanges, including high-level visits and joint exercises, will definitely be impacted." His comments follow the months-long suspension of military contacts last year after the US announcement of another arms deal for Taiwan. And they come a week after the United States government notified Congress of its decision on the latest arms package, which includes upgrades for Taiwan's 145 F-16 fighter jets. Chen Bingde, chief of the general staff of the People's Liberation Army of China, spoke by phone to Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen about the issue last Friday at Mullen's request, Geng said. "Mullen gave explanations for the US arms sale, while Chen expressed China's solemn stance on the issue," Geng said. Geng called on the US to honor its commitment regarding the Taiwan issue, stop selling arms and take practical measures to work for the healthy and steady development of China-US military relations. Meanwhile, a government spokeswoman yesterday rejected claims that the Chinese mainland poses a military threat to Taiwan, saying they were "inconsistent with the facts." Fan Liqing, a spokeswoman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said cross-Strait relations were stable and witnessing steady improvement. "Against such a background, it is hard to understand why some people in Taiwan still whip up a hostile sentiment with the so-called 'military threat from the mainland,'" said Fan. She had been asked to comment on a statement by a Taiwan defense official that the island would attack the mainland's major ports if the mainland initiated military strikes against Taiwan. She urged Taiwan to refrain from behavior that could result in cross-Strait confrontations or harm the peaceful development of both regions. |
| (2011-9-29 9:28:00hits:535) |