BEIJING, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Chinese officials urged the United States Saturday to cancel a planned arms sale to Taiwan.
Issuing a statement from Beijing, Defense Ministry spokesman Huang Xueping criticized the Obama administration for continuing the policy originally approved by former U.S. President George W. Bush, the state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.
"The U.S. side clings obstinately to the Bush administration's plan of arms sales to Taiwan, which severely undermines the mutual trust between the two militaries," Huang said. "It also greatly hinders the improvement and development of China-U.S. military ties. We reserve the right of taking further actions."
Xinhua said the statement marked the fourth time a Chinese spokesperson had condemned the move within a week. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu has also criticized the arms sales three times.
The Bush administration announced the $6.5 billion arms package for Taiwan in October 2008. The Chinese news agency says it includes 30 Apache attack helicopters and 330 Patriot missiles and reportedly represents the biggest arms sale to Taiwan since China and the United States signed the "August 17 (1982) Communique," in which Washington pledged to eschew a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan.
