China protests U.S.-Taiwan deal

WASHINGTON — China has abruptly canceled a series of military and diplomatic contacts with the United States to protest a planned $6.5 billion package of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, American officials told The Associated Press on Monday.

Beijing has notified the U.S. 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.

"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," Upton said, adding that "China's continued politicization of our military relationship results in missed opportunities."

The action will not affect China's participation with the U.S. in six-nation talks aimed at getting North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons or its participation in the international effort on Iran's nuclear program, U.S. officials said.

But it does include the cancellation of an upcoming U.S. visit by a senior Chinese general, other similar trips, several port calls by naval vessels and the indefinite postponement of meetings on stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction, the officials said.

Beijing is furious with the U.S. decision to sell Taiwan the huge $6.5 billion package of advanced weaponry and military items, including guided missiles and attack helicopters.

The deal includes 30 AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters, missiles and other equipment from Boeing, worth about $2.5 billion.

China, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province, says the sale interferes with internal Chinese affairs and harms its national security.

Zhou Wenzhong, Chinese ambassador to the U.S., was expected to register a similar protest about the arms sale Monday with the State Department.

Upton said the sale does not represent a change in U.S. policy and that Washington is only upholding the provisions of the Taiwan Relations Act under which the U.S. makes available items necessary for Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense.

Taiwan relies on U.S. weapons to keep pace with China's massive arms buildup across the Taiwan Strait. U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are a crucial matter because any dispute between China and Taiwan could ensnare the U.S.

Washington is Taiwan's most important ally and largest arms supplier.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Friday it had notified Congress of plans to sell up to $6.5 billion in advanced weaponry to Taiwan. Under procedures for such foreign military sales, the deal would proceed if no lawmaker voices an objection within 30 days of the notification.