China expresses strong indignation for the recent convening of the "US-Taiwan defense conference" in the United States, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said in Beijing Saturday.

The United States and Taiwan recently held an annual defense conference in Arizona, during which it was reported that US Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Richard Lawless urged Taiwan to approve a special budget for a US arms deal.

"The United States persisted on holding such a conference with Taiwan, regardless of China's firm opposition, and the US officer referred to so-called military threat from the Chinese mainland toTaiwan and urged Taiwan to purchase weapons from the US," Kong noted.

China expresses its strong indignation and has lodged "solemn representation" to the United States, he said.

Kong said that such a conference and the language Lawless used seriously infringed the commitment reiterated many times by the US government and leaders to adhere to the one-China policy, to follow the three Sino-US Joint Communiques and to oppose "Taiwan Independence".

"This practice helped motivate the adventure of the 'Taiwan Independence' forces, and is greatly harmful for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," Kong said.

Kong said China strongly urges the United States to recognize the harmfulness of its "wrong practice," to eliminate the negative effects of this practice, to stop military ties with Taiwan, to stop weapon sales to Taiwan and not to send wrong signals to the "Taiwan Independence" forces, so as to avoid harming the Sino-US relations.

(Xinhua News Agency October 10, 2004)