Fighter jet deal to put sino-U.S. ties to the test
Sino-US ties are facing a further test with a decision looming in Washington over arms sales to Taiwan. Analysts say the dilemma for Beijing is whether to react as strongly as it did early last year.
The Washington Times reported yesterday that US President Barack Obama had approved an arms package for Taiwan that excluded 66 Lockheed Martin Corp F-16 C/D jets the island requested in 2006.
The US$4.2 billion package, expected to be announced soon, probably included an upgrade of the island's F-16 A/B jets, the report said, quoting unnamed officials.
Luo Shou-he, a spokesman from Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence, said he was unaware of the US decision, adding that Taiwan would still ask to buy F-16 C/D jets.
Analysts said Beijing would inevitably express its objection, even if the US agreed only to upgrade the island's fighters.
Beijing has repeatedly demanded that the US respect Taiwan as one of its core national interests and has expressed its objections to arms sales to Taiwan strongly. High-level military exchanges between Beijing and Washington were suspended for about a year after the US agreed to sell US$6.4 billion worth of weapons to Taiwan in January last year.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Jiang Yu said yesterday that Beijing's stance on the issue was 'clear and firm', urging the US to respect the positive consensus on bilateral ties reached by leaders of both sides.
She hoped that 'both sides work hard to turn these consensuses into concrete results. Both sides should properly handle sensitive issues, and avoid any unnecessary disturbance and damage to bilateral ties.'
But experts said China may be reluctant to take action as strong as last year because it would tarnish the current positive sentiment in Sino-US ties, following President Hu Jintao's visit to the US earlier this year, and US Vice-President Joe Biden's visit to China last month.
'China is in a difficult situation now because any drastic action may damage that sentiment,' Renmin University US affairs expert Shi Yinhong said. 'China may express strong words, but may not do anything that will significantly damage bilateral ties.'
Shi said the arms sales would not have a major impact on a reciprocal visit to the US by Vice-President Xi Jinping , expected to take place early next year.
'Xi may decide on going to the US after the controversy regarding the arms sales has been watered down, so that his visit will not be overshadowed,' he said.
Lin Wen-cheng, a professor from Taiwan's National Sun Yat-sen University, said any drastic action by Beijing could affect the island's upcoming presidential election, creating favourable conditions for the opposition Democratic Progressive Party.
'I believe Beijing will be concerned about the impact caused to the Taiwan community,' he said.
