U.S. does not consult China on arms sales to Taiwan: officials
ROC Central News Agency
2011/10/26 13:09:30
By Tony Liao and Y.F. Low
Washington, Oct. 25 (CNA) The United States has never notified or consulted with Beijing prior to deciding to sell arms to Taiwan, U.S. officials said Tuesday.
They were clarifying remarks made by U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in Indonesia Sunday that Washington had "given the Chinese a heads up as to what was going to take place" when speaking of the Obama administration's latest decision to approve a US$5.85 billion arms package to Taiwan.
Panetta praised Beijing for handling the news of the sale "in a professional and diplomatic way."
A Pentagon official who spoke on condition of anonymity told CNA that the "heads up" was given before the news was released to the media, but he stressed that the U.S. government did not notify or consult with China before the decision was made.
A spokesman for the State Department, meanwhile, said Washington bases its arms sale decisions on Taiwan's defense needs and does not consult with China beforehand.
He said U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are helpful to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Washington also welcomes steps taken by Taipei and Beijing to lower their tensions, he said.
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