Beijing warns US: any missilistic help to Taiwan undermine regional peace

Beijing (AsiaNews/SCMP) - China on Thursday warned that any help given to Taiwan to protect itself against a missile threat would erode trust and undermine regional peace and stability.

The comments were made in a white paper — China's Endeavours for Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation — issued ahead of a visit to the United States next week by President Hu Jintao. Mr Hu leaves for the United States on Monday and will meet President George W. Bush on Wednesday. The Taiwan question remains the thorniest issue in Sino-US relations.

"As the Taiwan question involves its core interests, China opposes the attempt by any country to provide help or protection to the Taiwan region of China in the field of missile defence by any means," it said. "China does not wish to see a missile defence system produce negative impact on global strategic stability, bring new unstable factors to international and regional peace and stability, erode trust among big powers or undermine legitimate security interests of other countries."

Beijing regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to retake the island should it formally declare independence. China has some 700 ballistic missiles opposite Taiwan and could target the island with 1,200 ballistic and cruise missiles by 2014, the Taiwan defence ministry says.

Taiwan has already put into service three US-made PAC-2 anti-missile systems to protect the greater Taipei area, but has called for more help from Washington. Earlier this year it said it would need around 21 Patriot missiles to intercept and destroy any first wave of cruise missile attacks by China.

The United States remains Taiwan's leading arms supplier despite having diplomatic relations with Beijing. Under the Taiwan Relations Act it is obliged to provide arms "of a defensive nature".

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