News

China confirmed on Tuesday its decision to impose sanctions against U.S.
suppliers of arms to Taiwan.

Beijing warned Washington last weekend that its $6.3-billion deal to
sell arms to Taiwan could impair bilateral relations already marred by
Chinese cyber attacks on Google and China's pressuring for a diplomatic
solution to the Iranian nuclear problem.

"We strongly urge relevant U.S. companies to stop pushing forward
and taking part in the arms sales to Taiwan," Ma Zhaoxu, China's Foreign
Ministry spokesman, said.

Last Tuesday, the Chinese diplomat said Beijing's position on the
issue was "consistent, unequivocal and firm."

Although Taiwan has had an independent government since the end of
the Chinese civil war in 1949, China has considered the island group
part of its territory.

The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act stipulates that the United States is
"to provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character."