Wendell Minnick by Fantake via FlickrThe arms sales deal of a US 6 billion between the US and Taiwan continues to hamper the relations between the US and China, writes Wendell Minnick in Defense News. Chinese academics and others explain that this time “enough was enough” and might be hard to defuse the conflict as China continues to ban military exchanges and agreements.
Wendell Minnick in Defense News:
“Too often times, American policy makers tend to take for granted Chinese acquiescence on U.S. arms sales to Taiwan,” said one Chinese academic source, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “And that is something that has become increasingly counterproductive, if not dangerous, as the shifting balance of power, perceived or real, between China and the U.S. has unsettled the equilibrium of the game.”
Defense analysts indicate China has roughly 1,300 short-range ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan and is engaged in a major military build-up that includes new submarines, surface ships, fighter aircraft and long-range missiles.
Maj. Gen. Zhu Chenghu, director general, strategic studies department, National Defense University, directly challenged [US defense secretary Robert] Gates, saying that arms sales to Taiwan “hurt China’s core interests” and that the U.S. treated China as an “enemy.”
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Wendell Minnick is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. When you need him at your conference, do get in touch.
