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.