Washington: China has abruptly cancelled a series of military and diplomatic contacts with the United States to protest a planned multi-billion dollar US arms sale to Taiwan, American officials told The Associated Press.

Beijing has notified the US that it will not go forward with several senior level visits and other cooperative military-to-military plans, said Marine Maj Stewart Upton, a Defence Department spokesman.

"In response to Friday's announcement of Taiwan arms sales, the People's Republic of China cancelled or postponed several upcoming military-to-military exchanges," he said, lamenting that "China's continued politicisation of our military relationship results in missed opportunities."

The Chinese action will not affect the country's participation with the United States in six-nation talks to get North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons or its participation in the international effort on Iran's nuclear program, US officials said yesterday.

But it does include the cancellation of an upcoming visit to the United States by a senior Chinese general, other similar trips, several port calls by naval vessels and the indefinite postponement of meetings on stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction, the officials said.

"It's an unfortunate step," said deputy State Department spokesman Robert Wood.

Beijing is furious with the US decision to sell Taiwan the huge USD 6.5 billion package of advanced weaponry and military items, including guided missiles and attack helicopters. China, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province, says the sale interferes with internal Chinese affairs and harms its national security.
Source : PTI