China on Tuesday urged the US to immediately cancel arms sale programs, and stop arms sales and military links with Taiwan, according to the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao.

 

Liu made the remarks at a regular press conference when asked to comment on the US Department of Defense's recent announcement of planning to sell 3 sets of Patriot II anti-missile equipment upgrade systems and affiliated equipments worth of US$939 million to Taiwan.

 

China firmly opposes arms sales by the US government to Taiwan, and has already raised strong objections to the US, said Liu, noting that this has been a consistent and clear stance of China.

 

China urged the US to take actions to carry out the three China-US joint communiques, honor its commitment made to China on the issue of Taiwan, and stop sending any misleading signals to the separatist forces seeking "Taiwan Independence," Liu said, affirming that China reserved rights for taking further measures.

 

Regardless of China's solemn stance and firm opposition, the US took several improper actions in selling the P-3C anti submarine warfare aircraft, the Patriot II antimissile equipment upgrade systems, and other advanced weapons, Liu said.

 

Such wrongdoings severely violate commitments made to China in the joint communique signed between the two countries on August 17, 1982, rudely interfere in China's internal affairs, endanger Chinese national security and peaceful unification, and disturb the improvement and development of China-US relations, Liu stressed.

 

Noting that the Taiwan situation is highly complicated and sensitive, Liu said Chen Shui-bian's obstinate promotion of a "referendum" on Taiwan's bid to enter the UN, seeking membership in the UN under the name of Taiwan as well as other separatist activities attempting for "Taiwan independence," seriously threaten the peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

 

China expressed strong opposition to some US congressmen for issuing a bill supporting Taiwan's UN membership.

 

"The one-China principle is not allowed to be questioned or denied," Liu said.

 

East China Sea issue

 

China held an "open attitude" for proposal that would help resolve the East China Sea issue.

 

Liu made the remarks when answering a question concerning the 11th consultation between China and Japan on oil and gas exploration in the East China Sea to be held in Tokyo on Wednesday.

 

Hu Zhengyue, director-general of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, and Kenichiro Sasae, head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, will attend the consultation, according to Liu.

 

He said China attached great importance to the consultation and would continue to push it forward with a positive and pragmatic attitude.

 

"We hope Japan will make the same effort to promote the consultation," he said, adding that only joint efforts from the two countries could help in reaching an agreement.

 

Premier Wen's upcoming Singapore visit

 

Premier Wen Jiabao will make an official visit to Singapore and attend a series of meetings there from November 18 to 22, Liu announced.

 

The meetings will include the 11th Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Three Summit (ASEAN plus China, Japan, and South Korea), the 11th China-ASEAN summit, and the third East Asian regional summit, Liu said.

 

Wen will also attend the eighth annual meeting of leaders of China, Japan, and South Korea, Liu added.

 

Vice premier's visit to Algeria, Cyprus, Spain

 

Vice Premier Hui Liangyu will pay official visits to Algeria, Cyprus, and Spain from November 18 to 29, Liu announced.

 

During his tour, Hui will also attend the opening ceremony of the fourth meeting of the China-Spain forum, a non-official, high-level institution.

 

The forum, established in July 2003 with focus on facilitating bilateral cooperation in economy, politics, culture, and education, holds its annual meeting alternating in China and Spain.

 

Ecuadorian president's visit

 

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa will pay a state visit to China from November 19 to 25 at the invitation of President Hu Jintao, Liu announced.

 

During Correa's visit, he is expected to have official talks with President Hu, and meet with top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo and Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau.

 

China attaches great importance to President Correa's state visit, and is ready to further promote bilateral relations based on the communique on the establishment of diplomatic ties, Liu said.

 

China hopes Correa's visit could further push forward bilateral relations, he added.

 

Besides Beijing, Correa will also visit Shanghai.

 

EU summit

 

Liu said China expects the upcoming summit with the EU to achieve substantial results.

 

"The summit will be held at a historical stage for China-EU relations and many issues will be touched upon at the meeting," said Liu.

 

The 10th summit between China and the EU will take place in Beijing at the end of the month.

 

Liu also said the Taiwan issue was related to China's core interest. The EU has long adhered to the one-China policy, and China hopes it would maintain this stance.

 

Myanmar issue

 

China has played and will continue to play a constructive role on the Myanmar issue, said Liu.

 

China always supported the mediation efforts by the UN secretary general and his special envoy and would sincerely like to see a peaceful, stable, democratic, and developing Myanmar, Liu said.

 

Liu said it should be clearly understood that the Myanmar issue was very complicated and could not be thoroughly resolved through one or two rounds of mediation.

 

On the upcoming 11th meeting among leaders from the ASEAN, China, Japan, and South Korea, Liu said China would respect the views of related countries on whether to discuss the Myanmar issue at the meeting, stressing that the issue was essentially the internal affairs of Myanmar.

 

Myanmar's peace, stability, democracy, development, and progress are in accord with the interests of China, the region at large, and in particular, those of the ASEAN countries, Liu said.

 

"China has no self-interest on the issue," Liu said.

 

Database

 

Responding to reports that China is building databases on foreign journalists who would cover the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Liu said they are inaccurate. There are no such databases, nor any plan to build them.

 

He clarified that the Foreign Ministry, authorized by the State Council, is in charge of foreign reporters' affairs. The ministry will join hands with the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) to provide quality service to foreign reporters covering the Games.

 

(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily November 14, 2007)