After jets sold to Taiwan, Beijing halts military exercises with the U.S.
The spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, Geng Yansheng, once again criticized the contract with which Washington has committed itself to updating Taipei's air fleet: "It will have strong repercussions on bilateral relations."
Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) - China has not digested the military contracts (albeit partial) in which Washington pledges to improve Taiwan's air fleet, and has decided to terminate joint exercises with the United States. This was affirmed by the spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, Geng Yansheng, after the signing of the agreement worth 5.85 billion dollars, which the U.S. will use to update Taiwan's F-16s.
Geng condemned the move, confirmed by the U.S. Congress after a standoff between Republicans and Democrats: according to the spokesman, this manner of acting "will create major obstacles to military trade between the U.S. and the Dragon," and adds to "an already tense situation". According to the Taiwan Defence Act, Washington must intervene militarily on behalf of Taiwan in the event of Chinese aggression; Beijing, however, considers the island a rebellious province to be reconquered.
Geng added that the Chief of Staff of the People's Liberation Army, General Chen Bingde, had a telephone conversation with Mike Mullen, Chairman to the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff: Mullen provided explanations for the sale, while Chen expressed "the seriousness of the Chinese position on the issue."
The spokesman also urged the United States to take immediate effective measures to prevent "negative impacts" on military relations between China and the USA, by appealing to the United States "to honour its commitment [to China, ed.] on the issue of Taiwan."
Geng condemned the move, confirmed by the U.S. Congress after a standoff between Republicans and Democrats: according to the spokesman, this manner of acting "will create major obstacles to military trade between the U.S. and the Dragon," and adds to "an already tense situation". According to the Taiwan Defence Act, Washington must intervene militarily on behalf of Taiwan in the event of Chinese aggression; Beijing, however, considers the island a rebellious province to be reconquered.
Geng added that the Chief of Staff of the People's Liberation Army, General Chen Bingde, had a telephone conversation with Mike Mullen, Chairman to the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff: Mullen provided explanations for the sale, while Chen expressed "the seriousness of the Chinese position on the issue."
The spokesman also urged the United States to take immediate effective measures to prevent "negative impacts" on military relations between China and the USA, by appealing to the United States "to honour its commitment [to China, ed.] on the issue of Taiwan."
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