China's concern matches Taiwan's delight

Bush approved the sale of four Kidd-class destroyers to Taiwan, a White House official said

BEIJING, China -- China criticised the U.S. decision to provide the biggest arms package to Taiwan in a decade, while Taiwan's initial reaction indicated satisfaction.

Despite being denied the advanced radar system they had hoped for, Taiwan politicians and analysts Tuesday welcomed the sale.

"We are very pleased. Submarines are our first priority," said Steve Chou, an opposition legislator and retired lieutenant-general.

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In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue expressed "serious concern" and said China reserved the right to respond, but gave no clues as to how it would do that.

"China has consistently opposed the sale of weapons to Taiwan, and resolutely opposed the sale of Kidd Class destroyers, P-3 'Orion' planes and diesel-powered submarines and other advanced weapons," she said.

"All of these are advanced weapons," she told a news conference in language milder than many had expected, although it represented just the opening shot.

U.S. President George W. Bush put off on Monday a possible sale of the missile-hunting Aegis radar system to Taiwan and decided to sell less advanced weapons but to keep the option open should China pose a sufficient threat.

Bush offered to help Taiwan buy eight European-built diesel submarines and sell it four Kidd-class destroyers and a dozen anti-submarine P-3 "Orion" aircraft -- a package costing probably billions of dollars that would vastly improve the island's naval defences.

Taiwan Defence Ministry spokesman Huang Suey-sheng said: "We must obtain modern weapons for the sake of security in the Taiwan Strait and peace in the Asia-Pacific."

Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has threatened to attack if the island declared independence or dragged its feet on unification talks.

In Shanghai, Wu Xinbo, a professor at Fudan University's Centre for American Studies, said the decision to sell submarines had crossed a strategic "red line" and China was likely to retaliate.

But Taiwan politicians and analysts dismissed fears the island's ties with China would worsen due to the U.S. decision.

"It's a trick," Yan Jiann-fa, the top China expert in President Chen Shui-bian's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), said, referring to warnings that buying advanced weapons would provoke Beijing.

"They will get angry no matter what, but it's meaningless to get angry," Yan said.

"We're happy we'll be getting what we want. But it's not just the weapons. It's U.S. commitment to and concern for Taiwan."

Michael Swaine, China defense specialist at the Rand Corporation told CNN that the sale was the opening gambit in a delicate game of diplomacy between the U.S. and China.

"The U.S. administration has relented on the most controversial point, which is the Aegis, but it has approved a spate of other arms long-deferred. It's a pretty hefty laundry list. But the package doesn't have the incendiary quality it would have had with Aegis, Swaine said.

"This buys the U.S. some degree of breathing space. But we're not out of the woods on U.S.-China relations. This is just simply a breathing space," he said.

Analysts say that Taiwan had three main goals in the arms-purchase exercise: the first was to enhance its military capability; the second was to enhance its military and political relationship with the U.S.; and the third was to enhance Taiwan's self-confidence in dealing with mainland China.

With the package of military equipment, Taiwan's defense capability has received a boost.

There is a widespread feeling in political circles that this has been handled in such a way as to demonstrate American political support.

But how President Chen Shui-Bian will handle the third part of the equation, which is dealing with the mainland, is yet to be seen.

The fact he has yet to comment could stem from the fact he has to play to multiple audiences.

He will need to be suitably grateful to the U.S., while being aware that Taiwan's most die-hard supporters in Washington have been disappointed by U.S. failure to go ahead with the Aegis sale.

Mike Chinoy, Senior Asia Correspondent, contributed to this report.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

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