News Story: China lodges representations to US over defense act concerning Taiwan

BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- China has lodged solemn representations to the United States over a defense act that suggests re-establishing ports of call between the United States and Taiwan.

The National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2018, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives Friday, contains controversial provisions about re-establishing regular ports of call by the U.S. Navy at Kaohsiung or any other suitable ports in Taiwan and permitting U.S. Pacific Command to receive ports of call by Taiwan.

"Relevant provisions seriously violate the one-China policy and the three China-U.S. joint communiques upheld by the U.S. and infringes upon China's domestic affairs," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at a regular news briefing.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Xi, Trump exchange views on G20 summit, Korean Peninsula via phone

BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump held a telephone conversation on Monday, exchanging views on bilateral ties, the upcoming G20 summit and the Korean Peninsula issue.

During the conversation, Xi stressed that important results have been achieved in bilateral relations between China and the United States since the Mar-a-Lago meeting between the two heads of state.

Meanwhile, China-U.S. relations have also been affected by some negative factors, and the Chinese side has already expressed its position to the United States, Xi said.

The Chinese president also said that his country attaches great importance to Trump's reaffirmation that the United States will adhere to the one-China policy.

China hopes that the United States will handle the Taiwan issue appropriately in accordance with the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, Xi said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: US Arms Sales to Taiwan Violate International Rights – Chinese Foreign Ministry

By selling weapons to China, the United States violates international rights, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Friday, adding Beijing has already officially protested the new US arms sales deal.

BEIJING (Sputnik) – On Thursday, US President Donald Trump's administration approved a $1.42 billion arms sale to Taiwan. The deal includes deliveries of anti-radiation missiles, heavyweight torpedoes, components for SM-2 missiles and air-to-ground missiles.

"China has already lodged protests with the US side here in Beijing and in Washington. Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. By selling arms to Taiwan, the Unites States gravely violates the international rights and fundamental principles of foreign relations," Lu said at the press briefing.

News Report: US Proposal to Sell Taiwan Arms Risks China Backlash at Awkward Time

TAIPEI, TAIWAN — The U.S. government’s approval Thursday of $1.42 billion in advanced weaponry for Taiwan risks a stiff backlash from China after a year of strained relations between Beijing and the self-ruled island, which sees the mainland as its chief military rival.

China's foreign ministry protested Friday to the U.S. and asked that the arms deal be canceled. The ministry called it damaging to Chinese sovereignty.

Experts believe the proposed arms sale, a first from the United States to Taiwan since the approval of an $1.83 billion package in December 2015, is likely to anger China, which has tried since April to get along with President Donald Trump despite a rocky start. China sees self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and resents other countries for helping arm it.

“Mainland China will not be happy about today’s notification, but Taiwan has a right to its self-defense,” said Sean King, senior vice president of New York political consultancy Park Strategies.

News Story: China firmly opposes U.S. weapons sale to Taiwan

BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes the United States selling arms to Taiwan and urged the country to stop any weapons deal with Taiwan, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Friday.

Lu told a daily press briefing that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and the United States selling weapons to Taiwan violates international law, the basic norms of international relations, and the principles of the three joint communiques between the two countries, harming China's sovereignty and security interests.

He said that the Chinese government and people are determined to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and oppose to outside interference.

Media reported the U.S. State Department Thursday approved an arms sale to Taiwan worth about 1.4 billion U.S. dollars, the first such deal with Taiwan since U.S. President Donald Trump took office.

Lu said China strongly urged the United States to honor its commitments and stop any weapons deal with Taiwan so as to avoid further damage to relations between China and the United States.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: US clears arms deal for Taiwan worth up to $1.3B

By: Aaron Mehta

WASHINGTON — The State Department on Thursday cleared a massive arms deal for Taiwan, worth up to $1.3 billion. 

The move comes as at a time when the Trump administration continues to rely on China to pressure North Korea into dismantling its nuclear weapons program.  

The potential package includes seven different items sought by the Taiwanese government: 

• Early Warning Radar Surveillance Technical Support ($400 million)
• AGM-154C Joint Stand-off Weapon (JSOW) ($185.5 million)
• AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation (HARM) Missiles ($147.5 million)
• MK 48 6AT Heavy Weight Torpedoes ($250 million)
• MK 46 to MK-54 Torpedo Upgrade ($175 million)
• SM-2 Missile Components ($125 million)
• AN/SLQ-32A Electronic Warfare (EW) Shipboard Suite Upgrade ($80 million)

As with all foreign military sales, the agreement must be cleared by Congress and then go through actual negotiations over the equipment and dollar figures. As a result, the sale will likely shift and end up below the $1.3 billion estimate.   

A U.S government official, speaking on background ahead of the announcement, said the weapons offer does not reflect any change in the long-standing “One China” policy. China does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Report: Waking the Dragon - US Arms Sales to Taiwan Bound to Spark a Backlash From China

US lawmakers have recently called on the Trump administration to speed up arms sales to Taiwan as tensions between the self-governing island and mainland China continue to escalate. While the move has been welcomed by the Taiwanese authorities, Russian political analyst Andrei Karneev told Sputnik it will definitely spark a backlash from China.

On Thursday, the lawmakers in the United States called for the Trump administration to speed up the arms sales to Taiwan. The calls came after the Central American nation Panama announced that it was switching ties from Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, to Beijing and amid the escalated tensions between Taiwan and the mainland China.

"I remain concerned about successive administrations’ delays in arms sales notification for Taiwan, which have needlessly dragged out the arms sales process," Ed Royce, the chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, told the hearing in Washington on Thursday.

Royce said he hoped to see regular notifications in the future and looked forward to the announcement of new sales this year.

News Story: More trouble ahead for Taiwan's Tsai after rocky year

By Amber WANG

It has been a turbulent first year in power for Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen as relations with Beijing have soured and her approval ratings have plummeted.

And in the face of an intransigent China and warming ties between Beijing and the United States -- Taiwan's most powerful ally -- observers say there is more trouble ahead.

Tsai was inaugurated as the island's first female leader on May 20 last year, defeating the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang (KMT) party by a landslide.

Her victory spelled the end of eight years of cross-strait rapprochement as she refused to acknowledge the concept that Taiwan is part of "one China", unlike her predecessor Ma Ying-jeou.

Beijing still sees self-ruled democratic Taiwan as a renegade province to be reunified, and is deeply suspicious of Tsai.

Her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is traditionally pro-independence and there is little hope of finding middle ground.

Tsai has said she feels Taipei has shown "good will" towards China and she has repeatedly urged Beijing to break with its "old thinking" on cross-strait dealings.

But the message has fallen on deaf ears -- Beijing has cut off all official communication with Taipei and upped its military drills.

Read the full story at SinoDaily

News Story: Beijing gloats over Trump Taiwan snub

China on Friday praised US president Donald Trump's snub of Taiwan, noting that observers had called his decision not to take a second call from the island's president a "slap in the face".

Trump rattled China in December after taking a congratulatory call from the self-ruling island's new Beijing-sceptic president Tsai Ing-wen after his election, smashing decades of diplomatic precedent.

But after Tsai suggested another call could take place in an interview with Reuters Thursday, Trump said he did not want to risk his newfound "personal relationship" with China's president Xi Jinping.

"I think he's doing an amazing job as a leader and I wouldn't want to do anything that comes in the way of that. So I would certainly want to speak to him first," Trump told Reuters in a separate interview.

China "has noted the US reaction," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters during a regular press briefing, adding that online commenters "believe it's a slap in the face for Tsai Ing-wen".

"China always opposes that those with whom we've established diplomatic relations develop any formal or official exchanges with the Taiwanese side," he added.

Ties between Trump and Xi seem to have warmed recently after they met at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida earlier this month.

Read the full story at SinoDaily

News Report: Trump Gives Into Chinese Pressure On Taiwan

US President Donald Trump has rejected an offer by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to have another official phone call. The first in December 2016, was vehemently condemned by China, which considers Taiwan a rogue province. Trump has pledged to consult with Beijing before any further dialogue with Tawian.

Marking his first 100 days in office on April 29, in an interview, Donald Trump acknowledged that his presidency thus far has not been an easy one. 

One of his first foreign policy controversies happened in early December 2016, when, as President-elect, he took a phone call with President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen.

Those ten short minutes caused a diplomatic firestorm.

China reacted furiously to the news that diplomatic channels between Washington and Taipei, which had been cut off since 1979, had been opened.

News Story: New China fears in Taiwan after Trump snub

Taiwan's fears that it will become a bargaining chip between China and the United States worsened Friday after a snub by President Donald Trump, who said he would not do anything to upset Beijing.

Trump rattled China in December after taking a congratulatory call from the self-ruling island's new Beijing-sceptic president Tsai Ing-wen after his election, smashing decades of diplomatic precedent.

But after Tsai suggested another call could take place in an interview with Reuters Thursday, Trump said he did not want to risk his newfound "personal relationship" with China's president Xi Jinping.

"I think he's doing an amazing job as a leader and I wouldn't want to do anything that comes in the way of that. So I would certainly want to speak to him first," Trump told Reuters in a separate interview.

Ties between Trump and Xi seem to have warmed recently after they met at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida earlier this month.

Since then, Trump has praised China for helping pressure North Korea over its nuclear and missile programmes.

Taiwan's presidential office stepped back from the idea of a call after Trump's comments.

"We understand the priority of the US side in handling regional issues and have no current planning (for another call) at this stage," it said in a statement Friday.

Opposition lawmaker Chiang Wan-an called Trump's reaction an "embarrassment" for Taiwan.

"Trump and Xi appear to have established very good relations. Taiwan needs to tread very carefully and be alert," he told AFP.

Read the full story at SinoDaily

News Story: China says weapons won't stop unification with Taiwan

By: Ben Blanchard

BEIJING — China's Ministry of National Defense said Thursday it was futile for Taiwan to think it could use arms to prevent unification, as the self-ruled democratic island looks to fresh arms sales by the United States amid what it sees as a growing Chinese threat. 

China has never renounced the use of force to bring under its control what it deems a wayward province, and Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense says China has more than 1,000 missiles directed at the island. 

The Trump administration is crafting a big new arms package for Taiwan that could include advanced rocket systems and anti-ship missiles to defend against China, U.S. officials said earlier this month, a deal sure to anger Beijing. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: China warns US over arms sales to Taiwan

China on Monday reiterated its firm opposition to US arm sales to Taiwan, amid reports that Donald Trump's administration is preparing a large shipment of advanced weaponry for the self-ruling island.

"China firmly opposes US arms sales to Taiwan, this is consistent and clear-cut," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing.

"We hope the US side fully recognises the high sensitivity and serious harmfulness of its sales to Taiwan."

She called on Washington to abide by the One-China policy and "cease Taiwan arm sales" in order to preserve Sino-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

The comments, which came one day after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson ended a visit to Beijing, followed reports in US media that Trump's government was preparing a large-scale arms package for Taiwan.

China sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

Read the full story at SinoDaily

News Story: China to US - ‘Stop selling weapons to Taiwan’

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying on Monday condemned US over the large sale of new weapons to Taiwan saying it may cause “severe harmfulness.”

In a regular press briefing, Hua said “China’s position in opposing the arms sale is consistent and clear. We hope that the US can fully recognize the high sensitivity and severe harmfulness of such arms sale… remain committed to the one China policy and the principles of the three China-US joint communique.”

“Stop selling arms to Taiwan, properly handle the Taiwan question with prudence, and preserve China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits,” she added.

Read the full story at Tankler

News Report: Symbolic, or More? Uniformed Marines to Guard De Facto US Embassy in Taiwan

The new US administration continues to chip away at the edges of the longstanding One China policy, with the new president speaking with his Taiwanese counterpart shortly after his election victory and now with the decision to send US marines to guard its de facto embassy on the island state.

A handful of uniformed guards may not seem like a big deal, but as only nations with formal ties allow military personnel to be stationed at diplomatic missions, having them formally stationed in the Taiwanese capital takes on serious symbolism, the South China Morning Post points out.

When China and the US established full diplomatic relations in 1979, the US's official diplomatic relationship with Taiwan ended (at Beijing's request) and its Taipei military outpost was shuttered.

The US now maintains only unofficial ties with Taiwan. The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which the marines will guard, is technically a private entity, though it provides the services of an embassy.

Now, it's going to look even more like a real embassy — and Beijing, already ruffled at US President Donald Trump's phone chat with the Taiwanese president — is bound to be steamed.

News Story: China asks US to "properly handle" Taiwan issue

BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday said the United States should adhere to one-China policy and properly handle issues regrading Taiwan.

"We hope the U.S. will abide by one-China policy and principles of the three China-U.S joint communiques," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said when answering a question on the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: Taiwan President Balancing US Ties With China Despite Line to Trump

Ralph Jennings

TAIPEI — Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen is showing signs of steering a middle course between China and the United States, despite a unique connection with Donald Trump, to balance competing voter sentiments and reduce the risk of escalating anger in Beijing.

Tsai made a surprise call to Trump in December before he took office. But her government has made a series of statements over the past two weeks suggesting it wants no worsening of already strained relations with China. 

“As far as Taiwan’s policy toward China, she’s been very consistent in showing goodwill, which has not been reciprocated by China,” said Ross Feingold, a Taipei-based analyst with an American political consultancy.

Tsai is moving cautiously with Washington, analysts believe, partly to avoid being used as a Sino-U.S. bargaining chip, a fate opposed by much of Taiwan’s public. Some voters also want her to keep peace with China, a top trade and investment destination with the world’s third most powerful military.

But Tsai, who is known as a cautious person, cannot veer too close to China without upsetting voters and people in her political party with staunch anti-Beijing views. China fumes when major world powers such as the United States get close to Taiwan, implying that the Asian island is a sovereign state rather than a Chinese territory.

News Report: Trump to Honor 'One China' Policy

President Donald Trump told Chinese President Xi Jinping in a telephone conversation that the U.S. intends to honor the "One China" policy by acknowledging China's position it has sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan. 

The White House said the phone call between the two world leaders Thursday evening was "extremely cordial" and both presidents "extended invitations" to meet in their respective countries. 

Trump was criticized for a phone conversation he had with Taiwan's president after Trump won the presidential election in November.

No U.S. president or president-elect has had such contact with a Taiwanese leader since Washington broke formal ties with Taiwan in 1979 and switched to the larger, fast-growing China. But Washington has remained a staunch informal supporter of Taiwan since then.

News Story: Trump speaks with Chinese President over “One China Policy”

The White House on Friday said US President Donald Trump has vowed to honor Beijing’s “One China” policy in a phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The two leaders exchanged state visit invitations in a sign of improving ties.

“President Trump agreed, at the request of President Xi, to honor our ‘one China’ policy,” the White House statement said, following a lengthy conversation between Trump and Xi.

Read the full story at Tankler

News Report: China Waits as President Trump Speaks with World Leaders

William Ide, Joyce Huang

BEIJING — Since his January inauguration, U.S. President Donald Trump has spoken with more than a dozen world leaders. A list released recently by the White House listed 16 and included many of Washington’s traditional allies, even Russia. For some, one country was curiously absent: China.

And that has some China watchers wondering not only why, but when Trump will speak with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.

Since stepping into office, Trump’s focus has largely been on domestic issues and national security. And analysts say his pledge to put America first has meant he needs to focus on bringing jobs back to the United States, not a country he has accused of stealing those opportunities.

The U.S. president’s campaign pledge to bring jobs back to America is not only at odds with China’s interests, but his administration’s statements on what Beijing regards as "core interest" issues such as disputes in the South China Sea or a decision to speak with Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, have made China uneasy.

“From Mr. Trump’s perspective, he has to sort out his various policies; sometimes there are contradictions and so on, before he could have a coherent conversation with [China's] President Xi,” says Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.