PacAF adviser: China exchanges to resume soon

[unhappycamper]

PacAF adviser: China exchanges to resume soon
By Erik Holmes - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Dec 3, 2008 5:49:30 EST

Military exchanges between the U.S. and China are expected to resume next year after being suspended by China in October because of outrage over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, said the foreign policy adviser to the Pacific Air Forces commander.

Brian Woo, foreign policy adviser to PacAF commander Gen. Howie Chandler, said Nov. 19 that exchanges of noncommissioned officers and meetings between senior U.S. officers and their Chinese counterparts will likely begin again in 2009.

But that optimistic assessment contradicts statements made the same day by a Chinese general. The Financial Times reported that Chinese Maj. Gen. Qian Lihua, director of the Defense Ministry foreign affairs office, said the exchanges would not resume until the U.S. cancels a $6.5 billion arms sale to Taiwan, an island nation that China considers to be its own territory.

The U.S. does not recognize Taiwan as an independent nation, but maintains unofficial relations with the island under the Taiwan Relations Act, which declares that peace and stability in the area are in U.S. interests and provides for the sale of defensive military equipment. Arms sales have strong political support in the U.S.

There were several military-to-military exchanges between the U.S. and China in 2008, including two between Chandler and high-ranking Chinese generals.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/12/airforce_china_120308/%2e