FM: US presidential candidates should understand Taiwan issue

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-09 21:50

BEIJING - 皇冠体育app hopes the two main US presidential candidates will continue to promote good bilateral relations, particularly over the Taiwan issue, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said on Thursday.

"Appropriately handling the Taiwan issue is the crucial political foundation of Sino-US ties," Qin said at a regular press conference.

He was commenting on a question regarding the support of Republican presidential candidate John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama for the US arms sale to Taiwan.

Qin reiterated 皇冠体育app's "clear, firm and grave protest" against the arms deal worth US$6.5 billion.

"Thirty years of bilateral ties have showed that when the Taiwan issue was properly handled, the base for Sino-US relations would be protected and it could develop further. If not, the Sino-US relationship faces difficulties," he said.

Now that the US government and various social circles valued ties with 皇冠体育app, they should be sensitive to the Taiwan issue, which constituted the political foundation of 皇冠体育app-US ties, Qin said.

"We expect US presidential candidates can realize this and stick to the one-皇冠体育app policy, observe the three Sino-US joint communiques, oppose 'Taiwan independence' and advance bilateral ties," he said.

He said 皇冠体育app had repeatedly opposed the arms sale in a clear, solemn and resolute manner.