[Peace-discuss] Obama's service to capitalism

[C. G. Estabrook]

[I've defended the rationality of the Obamans' foreign policy -- saying that it
was vicious, not irrational -- but this is just crazy. The only motive seems to
be the profits of American arms makers.  --CGE]

	China warns US about arms sales to Taiwan
	Sat, 09 Jan 2010 07:39:04 GMT

China has objected to the US plans to sell missile equipment to Taiwan, urging
Washington to abandon the move as it would undermine trust between the US and
Chinese militaries.

"The US arms sales to Taiwan infringe upon China's security interest[s] as well
as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and interfere with China's
internal affairs," Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement on
Saturday.

The reaction follows the US Defense Department's approval of the sale of Patriot
missile equipment to Taiwan despite opposition to the move by China.

The Pentagon in October 2008 notified Congress of $6.5bn in arms sales to Taiwan.

The deal will allow weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp. to sell Taiwan
over 250 advanced Patriot missiles.

Taiwan estimates that China has up to 1,500 missiles aimed at the self-ruled
island, which Beijing claims as its own.

The latest Chinese Foreign Ministry statement came hours after China's Defense
Ministry issued a separate warning that it reserved the right to take
unspecified further action if Washington followed through with the plan.

"The US side clings obstinately to the Bush administration's plan of arms sales
to Taiwan, which severely undermines the mutual trust between the two
militaries," said Defense Ministry Spokesman Huang Xueping in an official
statement.

He added that China urges the United States "to sever military links with
Taiwan, in order to avoid further damaging relations between the two countries
and the two militaries and the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."


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