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U.S.-China military talks will not affect Taiwan ties: MOFA

ROC Central News Agency

09/02/16 16:33:07

By Jian Chen

Taipei, Feb. 16 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) expressed confidence Monday that U.S.-Taiwan relations would not be affected by plans between the United States and China to resume military consultations.

As these consultations had been in progress up to last year, there is no need for concern that they will affect the continuity of the smooth ties between the U.S. and Taiwan, said Harry Tseng, director-general of the MOFA's Department of North American Affairs.

Asked if the new U.S. administration might halt the weapons sales to Taiwan in view of the upcoming consultations with China, Tseng said this is unlikely, as the Pentagon since last October had notified the Congress of the proposed arms sale to Taiwan.

Tseng said he expects the U.S. would reiterate its "one China" policy if asked by Chinese leaders to comment on the Taiwan issue, since this framework has proved successful in helping to maintain peace and prosperity in the region over the past three decades.

During a speech delivered last Friday to the Asia Society in New York, new U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the U.S. will resume mid-level defense consultations with China later this month.

Beijing called off high-level military exchanges and non-proliferation talks with the U.S. last October after the Pentagon notified Congress that it planned to sell a package of advanced defensive weapons to Taiwan.

However, the spokesman for China's defense ministry, Hu Changming, said last month that his country was willing to resume military cooperation with the new U.S. administration of President Barack Obama.

The United States, which is committed under the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act to help Taiwan maintain adequate defense capability, has long been Taiwan's major defensive weapons supplier.

During a hearing held last week by the Senate Committee on Intelligence, new U.S. Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair reaffirmed Washington's commitment to help Taiwan maintain a military balance with China, which continues to modernize its military.