China on Sunday voiced its strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to the US tentative plans of arms sales to Taiwan and urges the US to immediately cancel the plans.

 

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said China firmly opposes the US arms sales to Taiwan. "Our position is consistent and clear," she said.

 

She said the US would seriously violate its commitments to China made in the three Sino-US joint communiques, in particular the joint communique signed between the two countries on August 17, 1982, if it sells P-3C antisubmarine aircraft and other advanced weapons to Taiwan.

 

She said the arms sales to Taiwan also constitutes wanton interference in China's internal affairs, noting the Chinese side has expressed strong objection and lodged a solemn protest with the US.

 

The US Department of Defense on Wednesday announced tentative plans to sell 12 P-3C antisubmarine aircraft and 144 cruise missiles to Taiwan.

 

The current situation across the Taiwan Straits is "very complicated and sensitive," Jiang said, referring to Taiwan authority's push for a referendum on UN membership in the name of Taiwan.

 

Jiang urged the US to adhere to its solemn commitments on the Taiwan issue with concrete actions, immediately cancel the tentative plans of arms sales to Taiwan, stop selling weapons to Taiwan, end its military links with Taiwan and stop sending any wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces.

 

"China reserve the rights of further action," Jiang said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2007)