Chinese Reactions to Taiwan Arms Sales
March 11
At the first annual US-Taiwan Business Council defense conference in Florida, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz says that “As President Bush and others have said, the United States is committed to doing whatever it takes to help Taiwan defend itself.” 101
March 12
Yang Jiechi, China’s Ambassador to the U.S., lodges a strong protest to the U.S. Department of State regarding the meetings between U.S. and Taiwan officials at the USTaiwan Business Council defense conference. “The Chinese government expresses its strong dissatisfaction and indignation.” “China demands the United States recognize the seriousness of its wrong move and correct it in real earnest. It demands Washington immediately stop official contacts and military exchanges with Taiwan.” 102
June 4
Congressional notification for three AN/MPN-14 air traffic control radars, at an estimated cost of US$108 million.
June 26
Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Peter Rodman visits Beijing to discuss a resumption of military exchanges.
September 4
Congressional notification for 54 AAV7A1 amphibious assault vehicles, at an estimated cost of US$250 million. Maintenance and spare parts for aircraft, radars, AMRAAMS, and other systems, at an estimated cost of US$174 million. 182 AIM-9M-1/2 Sidewinder air-toair missiles, at an estimated cost of US$36 million. 449 AGM-114M3 Hellfire II anti-armor missiles to equip AH-1W and OH-58D helicopters, at an estimated cost of US$60 million. 290 TOW-2B anti-tank missiles, at an estimated cost of US$18 million.
October 26
As reported in the Taiwan media, while meeting with President George W. Bush in Crawford, Texas, Chinese President Jiang Zemin offered the U.S. a deal whereby China would remove missiles from the Taiwan Strait in exchange for a decrease in U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. There was later disagreement over the exact wording of the proposal, and the two leaders apparently did not pursue the idea further.
November 21
Congressional notification for four Kidd-class destroyers for Taiwan, at an estimated cost of US$875 million.
101
Wolfowitz, Paul, “Remarks to U.S.-Taiwan Business Council” March 11, 2002, at www.dod.gov/pubs/foi/International_security_affairs/china/twn_us_council.pdf. 102 “China Protests US Official Contacts With Taiwan” Embassy of the PRC in the USA, April 14, 2002, at www.chinaembassy.org/eng/zt/twwt/t36755.htm.
2012 US-Taiwan Business Council | Project 2049 Institute www.us-taiwan.org | www.project2049.net
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