China on Friday slammed the possible sale of advanced US-built air-to-air missiles to Taiwan. "We firmly oppose any country interfering in China's internal affairs, or selling weapons to Taiwan under any excuse," a foreign ministry spokeswoman in Beijing said.

"China has made solemn representations many times to the US side over the provision of US weapons to Taiwan."

The spokeswoman said that it hoped Washington would end arms sales "in order to avoid damage to the common interests of the two countries and the Sino-American relationship."

A US defence official said that the United States was considering delivering 120 AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Taiwan.

The issue of US arms sales to Taiwan is a constant irritant between China and the US.

Last year US announced a most comprehensive arms package for Taiwan in almost a decade, including four Kidd-class destroyers, eight diesel submarines and 12 P-3C submarine-hunting aircraft, arosing strong protest from China.

(China Daily July 6, 2002)