Beijing, China (CNN) — China has threatened to slap sanctions on
American companies that sell arms to its rival Taiwan as part of a range
of punitive actions Beijing is taking to protest the deal.
China also summoned U.S. ambassador Jon Huntsman to express its
anger over Washington’s announcement, the official Chinese news agency
Xinhua said, citing the Foreign Ministry.
Beijing also suspended plans for visits between the Chinese and U.S.
militaries and postponed a high-level arms control meeting, it
announced Saturday, following Washington’s $6.4-billion arms deal with
Taiwan.
China’s Defense Ministry said the decision was made “in
consideration of the serious harm and impacts on Sino-U.S. military
relations” brought about by the arms deal, according to Xinhua.
“China will make further judgments as appropriate,” Xinhua reported.
China had already complained to the United States about the deal,
announced Friday by the Obama administration.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei called it a “rude
interference in China’s internal affairs, severely endangering China’s
national security” and said China expressed its “strong indignation.”
The arms sale includes 60 Black Hawk helicopters, totaling $3.1
billion; 114 advanced Patriot air defense missiles; a pair of Osprey
mine-hunting ships; and dozens of a… >>>
