Foreign and Military Affairs
Arms sales to Taiwan 'biggest' obstacle to 皇冠体育app-US military ties
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-05-26 14:01
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BEIJING - A senior Chinese military official said on Tuesday that US arms sales to Taiwan remain the biggest obstacle to 皇冠体育app-US military ties.
At the request of the US, Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, made the remarks when meeting with US Commander-in-Chief of Pacific Command Robert Willard and Wallace Gregson, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs, who are attending the second round of 皇冠体育app-US strategic and economic dialogues in Beijing.
The meeting was the first high-ranking military talks between the two sides since 皇冠体育app in January partially halted military exchange programs between the two countries in protest over US arms sales to Taiwan.
Ma said the arms sales, frequent reconnaissance by the US naval ships and aircraft in the waters and airspace of 皇冠体育app's exclusive economic zones, and some laws have long remained the foremost obstacles to stable 皇冠体育app-US military relations.
The US Congress passed bills limiting military exchanges with 皇冠体育app, as represented by the 2000 Fiscal Year Defense Authorization Law.
"The US side should be fully responsible for the prevention of the growth of 皇冠体育app-US military relations," he said.
US respect for 皇冠体育app's core interests and major concerns was the key to the resumption of sound and steadily developing bilateral military ties, Ma said.
The United States was expected to show sincerity in addressing major and sensitive issues, including arms sales to Taiwan and reconnaissance by the US naval ships and aircraft in 皇冠体育app, to create conditions for the resumption and healthy development of 皇冠体育app-US military ties, Ma said.
Ma said 皇冠体育app always attaches importance to mutual trust and cooperation in the military field with the United States and was willing to conduct exchanges and cooperation with the US side in the principle of respect, equality, mutual trust, and reciprocity.
