China yesterday issued one of its toughest warnings yet to the US over the sale of weapons to Taiwan.
In a blunt message, the Chinese Foreign Minister, Mr Tang Jiaxuan, said sales of weapons to Taiwan, such as the Aegis radar system, would endanger US-China relations and encourage advocates of Taiwan independence. He urged Washington to "rein in its wild horse right on the edge of the precipice".
If the US continued to fail to honour its commitment on the Taiwan question and insisted on selling advanced weapons, it would encourage Taiwan independence elements to continue to engage in separatist activities, the minister added.
Mr Tang said during a news conference on the fringes of the National People's Congress in Beijing that Washington was "making troubles" that prevented a resolution of the Taiwan issue.
Another obstacle to reunification was the failure of President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan to accept the principle of "one China", Mr Tang added.
Mr Tang confirmed that the Vice-Premier and foreign policy expert, Mr Qian Qichen, is due to visit Washington for a week from March 18th. Arms sales would be discussed in meetings that would mark the highest-level contact between China and the US since the election of President Bush.
China announced yesterday it would increase defence spending by a record 17.7 per cent this year to around $17 billion in a move expected to stir unease with its neighbours and the US. Presenting his 2001 budget to the parliament, the Finance Minister, Mr Xiang Huaicheng, said the large increase was caused by wages and the need to develop a military equipped for the high-tech battlefield.
The 17.7 per cent increase in defence spending compares to a 9.3 per cent overall increase in spending in the 2001 budget and a 12.1 per cent in military spending last year.
Analysts claim the real defence budget is up to four times larger than the official figure, which does not include weapons procurement, research and development, and pensions for retired soldiers.
The minister said the increase would meet the need to raise the salaries of officers, enlisted men and women and office staff. He said the budget also addressed the need to meet drastic changes in the military situation of the world and to prepare for defence and combat given the conditions of modern technology.
That was seen as a clear reference to US plans to build missile defence systems that could shelter Taiwan and to sell high-tech weapons to the island, which China regards as a rebel province.
Meanwhile, Mr Tang warned Japan that publication of a history textbook glossing over Tokyo's imperialist past could harm bilateral relations.
Mr Tang said China had made representations last month after it was reported that Tokyo was about to approve a school history text written by a group of nationalist academics, which justified Japan's war-time predations in Asia.
