**China has expressed its outrage over a proposed US weapons sale to Taiwan, worth $6.4bn (£4bn), including helicopters and missiles.**Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei said the move would have a “serious negative impact” on co-operation between the US and China.
Ties between China and the US are already strained by rows over trade and internet censorship.
Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province of China.
Taiwan split from China at the end of the country’s civil war in 1949.
Beijing has hundreds of missiles pointed at the island and has threatened in the past to use force to bring it under its control.
Strained relations
“The United States’ announcement of the planned weapons sales to Taiwan will have a seriously negative impact on many important areas of exchanges and co-operation between the two countries,” Mr He said.
“This will lead to repercussions that neither side wishes to see,” he said, urging Washington to halt the planned sale.
The Pentagon earlier notified the US Congress of the proposed arms sale, which included helicopters and Patriot anti-missile defences.
The weapons are part of a package first pledged by the Bush administration.
PROPOSED ARMS SALE
- 114 Patriot missiles ($2.81bn)
- 60 Black Hawk helicopters ($3.1bn)
- Communication equipment ($340m)
- 2 Osprey mine-hunting ships ($105m)
- 12 Harpoon missiles ($37m)
Source: Defense Security Co-operation Agency
Friday’s notification to Congress by the Defense Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) was required by law. It does not mean the sale has been concluded.
US lawmakers have 30 days to comment on the proposed sale, Associated Press reported. If there are no objections, it would proceed.
The arms package includes 114 Patriot missiles, 60 Black Hawk helicopters and communications equipment for Taiwan’s F-16 fleet, the agency said in a statement.
It does not include F-16 fighter jets, an item highly desired by Taiwan’s military.
Beijing has previously warned the US not to go ahead with arms sales to Taiwan. Ties between China and the US are already strained by rows over trade and internet censorship.
The DSCA said the proposed sale would support Taiwan’s “continuing efforts to modernise its armed forces and enhance its defensive capability.”
It added: “The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region.”
The US is the leading arms supplier to Taiwan, despite switching diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979.