(Thumbnail image: Press TV)
China is on the defensive following the recent sale of arms from the United States to Taiwan.
The sale, which included Blackhawk helicopters, missiles, and communications systems has prompted warnings from China that economic sanctions against American military companies could be on the horizon.
We’re looking at perspectives from CNN, CCTV, Al-Jazeera, the New York Times and BBC.
In an interview with CNN, former Defense Secretary William Cohen argues that the tension has been sparked by Chinese aggression towards Taiwan.
“The easiest thing to do would be for China to pull back its medium-range ballistic missiles, stop pointing so many at Taiwan, and then you wouldn’t have the necessity for Taiwan to be requesting defensive equipment that Congress would then be providing for them. So it’s easy, I think it’s an emotional issue, but it’s one that can be resolved without confrontation.”
The debate comes down to a 1982 communique between the US and China, where the US pledged to decrease its sale of arms to Taiwan over time. Chinese state-run CCTV, translated here by Reuters, argues that the U.S. has broken that promise.
“The United States has ignored China and has insisted on making wrong decisions. This act is seriously against the agreement between the two nations, especially the August 19th communiqué. The arms sales were a crude interference in China’s domestic affairs and seriously harmed China’s national security and jeopardized the undertaking of China’s peaceful unification.”
But on Al Jazeera English, a U.S. State Department spokesperson says that the U.S. is barred by the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which promises that the U.S. will supply defensive weapons to Taiwan in case of a mainland Chinese attack.
“This is a clear demonstration of the commitment that this administration has to provide Taiwan the defensive weapons it needs and as provided for in the Taiwan Relations Act."
BBC News reported a statement from the Central News Agency that Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou saw the arms deal as important for establishing better relations with China.
“It will let Taiwan feel more confident and secure so we can have more interactions with China.”
So, what do you think? Is the U.S. intruding in Chinese affairs or answering China’s aggression towards Taiwan?
Writers: Brandon Twichell and Ben Stewart
Producer: Newsy Staff
