China cancels military contacts with US over Taiwan arms deal

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
China has abruptly canceled a series of military and diplomatic contacts with the United States to protest a planned multi-billion dollar US arms sale to Taiwan, American officials told The Associated Press on Monday. Beijing has notified the US that it will not go forward with several senior level visits and other cooperative military-to-military plans, said Marine Maj. Stewart Upton, a Defense Department spokesman, on Monday. "In response to Friday's announcement of Taiwan arms sales, the People's Republic of China canceled or postponed several upcoming military-to-military exchanges," he said, lamenting that "China's continued politicization of our military relationship results in missed opportunities." The Chinese action will not affect the country's participation with the United States in six-nation talks to get North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons or its participation in the international effort on Iran's nuclear program, US officials said.