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PRC not consulted
over arms: US
‘CREATING A FALSE IMPRESSION’: A Pentagon letter
showed that Beijing had tried to misrepresent the Chang-Hagel meeting, the
president of FAPA said
By William Lowther / Staff reporter in WASHINGTON
The Pentagon has confirmed that it did not agree to consult with China about
sales of weapons to Taiwan when US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel met with
Chinese Minister of Defense General Chang Wanquan (常萬全) in Washington in August.
Following the meeting, Chinese official Guan Youfei (關友飛) announced that Hagel
had agreed with Chang’s proposal that the US and the PRC establish a joint task
force on the issue of arms sales.
“I believe it is a bad idea for the United States to invite aggressive powers
into consultations on the security of America’s treaty allies or partners for
whom the US has statutory security commitments,” US Representative Michael
McCaul said in a letter to Hagel.
“I ask that you confirm that the US is fully committed to the defense of Taiwan
and does not consult with China about sales of weapons to Taiwan, and that you
affirm that we don’t have a policy of self-restraint on weapons sales to
Taiwan,” McCaul said in the letter.
In a reply released on Friday, US Undersecretary of Defense James Miller said
the US government’s approach to Taiwan was founded on the three joint US-China
Communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA).
“This approach has been a constant for eight US administrations and will not
change,” Miller said.
“As a matter of policy, and consistent with previous assurances we have given to
Taiwan, the United States does not consult with China prior to a decision to
sell arms to Taiwan, and did not agree to do so when General Chang met with
Secretary Hagel,” Miller said in the letter.
Miller said that the administration of US President Barack Obama would continue
to make defense articles and services available to Taiwan in such quantity as
may be necessary for Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.
“The Department of Defense views support to Taiwan as consistent with both the
TRA and with US security interests to ensure peace and stability in Northeast
Asia,” Miller said.
Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) President Mark Kao (高龍榮) said he
was pleased with the Pentagon’s letter, which showed that the Chinese side had
tried to give a “false impression” after the Chang-Hagel meeting.
“As Taiwanese-Americans we are happy to have so many good friends in [the US]
Congress who are supportive of Taiwan,” he said.
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