US weapons sales to Taiwan inevitably cast a long shadow on Sino-US relations.

 

February 02, 2010 (Hamsayeh.Net) - US’ latest arms sales to Taiwan an island China considers an integral part of its own territory, has prompted Beijing to issue harsh statements against the deal.

 

Last Week Washington announced a nearly 6 billion euros arms contract with Taiwan that include advance air defense systems to counter what Washington views as increasingly advanced Chinese missile threats against the island. A new report issued by the US Defense Department, yesterday, said it was concerned about China’s missile build up and increasingly advanced capabilities in the Pacific region.

 

The Sino-US relations however extend far beyond military spats regarding Taiwan. China is the world’s largest holder of US government’s Treasury Bounds, and exports hundreds of billions of euros to the US thus indirectly hurting America’s own domestic manufacturing and exports. For this, reason the US has boosted military presence in oil rich countries of the Middle East in a bit to control energy flow to the international markets, which would then support the value of US dollar in global economy.

 

The Obama administration has criticized China for keeping the value of Chinese currency pegged to the dollar, protectionism, policy on Tibet and Internet freedom, among others. 

 

China’s official newspaper China Daily, blasted US’ move for arms sales to Taiwan in an editorial. It wrote, ‘US weapons sales to Taiwan inevitably cast a long shadow on Sino-US relations. ‘China's response, no matter how vehement, is justified. No country worthy of respect can sit idle while its national security is endangered and core interests damaged,’ it added.

 

Ever since the 2008 global economic recession, the United Stated sees own relations to the other nations around the world more and more in terms of a military force destined to keep law and order i.e. a police officer. In a controversial move, soon after Haiti’s devastating earthquake, White House announced sending tens of thousands of fully armed troops to the island nation as if the mission was to launch a military offensive against an opposing army.

 

The US maintains similar postures with respect to North Korea, Taiwan, Iran, Georgia, Poland, Somalia, Colombia, Persian Gulf States, Japan, the North Pole and the Antarctic.