China warns U.S. against arms sale

China warns U.S. against arms sale

BEIJING (AFP): China warned on Friday the United States
against going ahead with a planned US$1.3 billion arms sale to
Taiwan, or otherwise face "serious consequences," state media
said.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said the US should
live up to previously signed communiques and commitments and
abandon the planned arms sale, the official Xinhua news agency
said.

"Otherwise, the US side should bear the serious consequences
arising therefrom," Sun said.

He said the sale amounted to interfering in China's internal
affairs and said his ministry had lodged a strong protest with
the U.S. government, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

The Pentagon notified Congress Thursday of the arms package,
which includes an advanced air-to-air missile that had never been
sold in the region and until last year was only available to NATO
allies.