TAIWAN China warns U.S. over sale of radar

China is concerned that the U.S. is encouraging Taiwan's independence.
BEIJING (AP) -- China cautioned the United States today against sending the "wrong message" to Taiwan after a Pentagon agency approved the sale of a $1.7 billion early-warning radar system to the self-ruled island.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan, speaking at a regular news briefing, didn't comment directly on the sale but said, "We've always objected to the United States selling advanced weapons to Taiwan.
"We will urge the U.S. to stand by its commitments rather than send the wrong message to the Taiwanese authorities," Kong said.
China claims Taiwan as its part of its territory and objects to foreign weapons sales to its elected government. The United States has no formal relations with the island but is its biggest arms supplier and is committed by law to help it defend itself. A Pentagon statement said the radar sale would not affect the regional military balance -- a key issue for Washington, which wants to avoid an arms race.
Beijing plans to "seek clarification" from the American government, Kong said.
Message to U.S.
Also today, China said it called on the United States to avoid official contact with Taiwan.
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in Berlin the day before, urged Washington to "oppose Taiwan independence," the official Xinhua News Agency said.
Li insisted that Taiwan's presidential elections last month "have not changed the fact that Taiwan is part of China," Xinhua said. It said the foreign minister urged Washington to "refrain from any official contact with the Taiwan authorities."
The report coincided with the Pentagon statement Tuesday that Taiwan had been approved to buy a long-range radar system that would detect ballistic or cruise missiles -- a step that could aggravate U.S.-Chinese disagreements over the island.
Taiwan and the mainland split in 1949. Beijing has threatened war if the island takes formal steps toward independence and has hundreds of missiles aimed at it.
Li said Taiwan is "the most sensitive and important question" in Beijing's ties with the United States, Xinhua reported. It said Powell agreed to stick to Washington's "one-China policy ... and not support any form of Taiwan independence."
China's concern
China worries that U.S. contact with Taiwan might encourage activists who want to make its de facto independence permanent. Beijing has accused Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian of pursuing independence, a step the mainland says would lead to war.
China expressed anger after Washington sent congratulations to Chen after his re-election. Beijing rejects the notion of Taiwan's having a national government and criticizes any actions by foreign governments that appear to acknowledge its sovereignty.
Today, the Asia Wall Street Journal quoted Chen as saying that he hopes the United States can play an "active, constructive" role as mediator during his second term in office.