Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Experts: US arms deal won't hurt Taiwan-China ties
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Experts: US arms deal won't hurt Taiwan-China ties
By DEBWU,Associated Press Writer -
Monday, February 1
Send
IM Story
Print
TAIPEI, Taiwan – Despite a furious denunciation of U.S. plans to sell $6.4 billion of arms to Taiwan, Beijing is unlikely to lash out at the democratic island, because it fears undermining its China-friendly president, Taiwanese analysts say.
The weapons deal, announced Friday, includes missiles, Black Hawk helicopters, information distribution systems and two Osprey Class Mine Hunting Ships. The package, however, dodged a touchy issue: F-16 fighter jets, which Taiwan covets, are not included.
Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949. The communist government in Beijing continues to regard the island as part of its territory and reserves the right to use force to bring it back under its control _ Washington's main reason for continuing to sell it arms.
On Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said the planned weapons sale was a "crude interference in China's internal affairs" and would hurt its national security.
Beijing had already suspended military exchange visits with the United States and threatened unprecedented sanctions against U.S. defense companies over the deal. Stephanie T. Kleine-Ahlbrandt, northeast Asia project director for the International Crisis Group, said it was the strongest such reaction from China in recent years.
But Taiwanese analysts said the island's rapidly improving relations with the mainland were not likely to be a victim of the Chinese anger.
"Beijing knows that if it tries to spoil cross-strait relations, it will hurt the standing of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou," said international relations specialist George Tsai of Taipei-based Chinese Culture University. "If Ma's domestic standing is weakened, it will only strain cross-strait relations further."
Since Ma took office in May 2008, he has jettisoned his predecessor's pro-independence policies, reducing cross-strait tensions to their lowest level in 60 years. Besides agreeing to the launching of regular air and maritime services across the 100-mile- (160-kilometer-) wide Taiwan Strait, he is also pushing a partial free trade agreement that will allow the free flow of many goods, services and capital between the sides. Negotiations on the deal opened last week in Beijing.
Wang Kao-cheng of Taipei-based Tamkang University said these talks are unlikely to be affected.
"Despite the arms deal, Taiwan is continuing on the path of reconciliation with China," he said. "Beijing has also made it clear that it will push cross-strait relations forward as much as possible when Ma is still in power."
However, in Beijing, Yu Wanli, a professor from the Center for International and Strategic Studies of Peking University, said the U.S. arms sale to Taiwan could hurt cross-strait relations, because it gave impetus to supporters of formal independence for the island.
"The arms sale to Taiwan by the U.S. sends the wrong signal to Taiwan, that is, that America supports the democratic system in Taiwan which may eventually lead to independence," Yu said. He added that he believed a big proportion of Taiwanese were independence supporters.
Niu Jun, a Peking University international relations specialist, said the U.S. arms sale to Taiwan will have little effect on the military balance between the sides, which most analysts see as now trending strongly in China's favor.
"Ultimately, the mainland will have advantages in terms of military strength" over Taiwan, Niu said.
Tamkang University's Wang agreed.
"The package will redress the imbalance but not in a significant way," Wang said. "Taiwan's air force will face a serious gap in the long term if they need to retire aging planes without F-16 fighter jet replacements."
___
Associated Press researcher Henry Hou contributed to this story from Beijing.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Pakistan army probes report of Taliban leader's death Reuters - 39 minutes ago
Pakistan checks reported death of Taliban chief AP - 2 hours 9 minutes ago
U.N. official to visit North Korea next month Reuters - 2 hours 40 minutes ago
Filipino troops kill 3 communist rebels in clash AP - Monday, February 1
UN chief to send special envoy to North Korea AP - Monday, February 1
News Search
Top Stories
Bankers leave Davos battered by blame game
Obama trims US space ambitions
GlaxoSmithKline to axe 4,000 jobs in US, Europe
Gandhi ashes scattered off South Africa
Italy halts bluefin fishing for a year: EU
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Gandhi ashes scattered off South Africa
Got a decision to make? Have some sugar, study says
GlaxoSmithKline to axe 4,000 jobs in US, Europe
Bankers resigned to reform after Davos bust-up
US angers China with Taiwan arms package
More Most Viewed »
Woman who saved Anne Frank's diary dead at 100
Scientists praise Obama as Doomsday clock reset
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Sunday, 31 January 2010 Iran puts 16 opposition supporters on trial
Italy halts bluefin fishing for a year: EU
Haiti faces long, difficult road to recovery
|
Davos ends with recovery warning after banking bust-up
Police: Suicide bomber kills 2 at Iraqi restaurant
Italian judges stage walk-out against Berlusconi
Thousands rally to urge Russia's Putin to resign
|
Gandhi ashes scattered off South Africa
Iran warns protesters as post-vote trial starts
Iran executes two men for rape
Iran opposition in implicit call for protest on Feb 11
Sri Lanka's losing candidate vows protests
|
Thai PM: There won't be a coup d'etat
Pearl Harbor merging with Hickam Air Force Base
NATO airstrike kills 4 Afghan soldiers in mix-up
Obama taking populist tone in fight over jobs
AP Interview: Months ahead key to Afghan fight
US military airlifts of Haiti quake victims halted
Washington Times names Dealey as top editor
Southeastern US stares down icy, snowy weekend
Oregon legislators say 'Whew,' go back to work
Afghan govt condemns NATO airstrike on soldiers
NM bill first step toward carbon storage
Teen held in 80-year-old Ohio churchgoer's death
NYC fire in immigrant housing kills at least 5
Bigelow, Cameron, Tarantino vie for director honor
China will move on yuan when stimulus packages end: banker
Pakistan keeps policy rate unchanged at 12.5 pct
Three Americans Killed In Afghanistan
Music world preps for Sunday's Grammys
Grammy weekend begins with Neil Young tribute
Crystal Cathedral makes deep cuts as revenues drop
US Marines facing a 'different war' in Afghanistan
GlaxoSmithKline to axe 4,000 jobs in US, Europe
UN chief calls for treaty to prevent cyber war
U.S. halt to Haiti evacuations stirs fears for sick
|
Obama trims US space ambitions
Sudan rejects three presidential candidates
Seized North Korea arms were bound for Iran: Thailand
|
Sudan rejects three presidential candidates
|
Court Stops Dispensary From Selling Medical Marijuana
President Obama Orders Federal Support For State Of Oklahoma
Moderate China quake kills one: state media
US, China locked in dispute over Taiwan arms sale
Earthquake strikes southwestern China, killing 1
Malaysian court fines lovers 4 buffaloes, pig
China: U.S. arms sales to Taiwan hurt national security
Indian parents vie for nursery school admissions
US troops more than welcome in Haiti _ for now
Miss Virginia wins 2010 Miss America crown
Pakistan: 25 dead in suicide bomb, US missile hit
Seized North Korea arms were bound for Iran
Haiti holds 10 US citizens over trafficking concerns
Anger as NATO airstrike kills 4 Afghan soldiers
Cambodian, Thai troops clash on border: Phnom Penh
Books pulled from Amazon.com in pricing dispute
31 emaciated horses rescued in Ohio; 6 others die
Obama seeks $200M to help cities host 9/11 trials
Idaho man says 10 Americans detained in Haiti
Japan's listed firms keep boosting profits: report
Asia-Pacific trade deal faces skeptical Americans
China will move on yuan when stimulus packages end: banker
Michael Jackson, Leonard Cohen win special Grammys
|
Winter's Bone, Restrepo win top Sundance awards
|
'Winter's Bone,' 'Restrepo' earn Sundance honors
"Winter's Bone", "Restrepo" win top Sundance awards
Miss Virginia wins 2010 Miss America crown
Michael Jackson, Leonard Cohen win special Grammys
AP NewsAlert
Pat Tillman cover-up focus of Sundance documentary
Ex-Nevada deputy relieved over bribery acquittal
Rip Torn charged with breaking into Conn. bank
Egypt's veil wearers see it as barrier to harassment
Saudi couple forced to divorce reunited by court
French government on the defensive rival's new trial
Bankers leave Davos battered by blame game
U.N. official to visit North Korea next month
|
Israel: Slain Hamas leader key arms smuggler
China Threatens Sanctions Over U.S.-Taiwan Arms Deal
Slain Hamas leader helped Gaza get arms
Saudi couple forced to divorce reunited by court
|
Gaddafi chides African Union after leadership change
|
Karzai renews call for Taliban to reconcile
Pope calls on business, government to save jobs
|
Pakistan army probes report of Taliban leader's death
|
Yemen clashes continue, ceasefire offer rejected
|
Slain Hamas leader helped Gaza get arms: spokesman
|
Obama pushes nuclear energy to boost climate bill
Haiti holds US citizens suspected of child trafficking
January death rate signal of tough year in Afghan war
Filipino troops kill 3 communist rebels in clash
UN chief to send special envoy to North Korea
China activist to end protest at Tokyo airport
UN must speak out over Cambodian rehab centres: HRW
Report: Chinese sub entered Taiwan waters
New study fails to bridge Japan, China history divide
Experts: US arms deal won't hurt Taiwan-China ties
Mexican president in Japan for three day visit
S.Lanka premier targets army officers: source
Pakistan: Mule steps on land mine, kills 2 troops
India shifts monetary gears as economy rebounds
China's online travel market booming
Japan carmakers must restore reputation: media
It's ladies' night at the Grammys
|
Bigelow wins Directors top award for Hurt Locker
|
Actor Rip Torn arrested drunk, armed in Conn. bank
|
Kathryn Bigelow tops directors with `Hurt Locker'
'Hurt Locker' director wins key Oscars indicator
Actor Rip Torn arrested drunk, armed in Conn. bank
In Italy, 'Madonna hospital' cares for quake-damaged art
Thousands attend 'Lost' sneak preview
Mormon role in gay marriage ban scrutinized at Sundance
'Restrepo,' 'Winter's Bone' take top Sundance honors
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights