Beijing ups pressure on US over Taiwan arms deal

China’s Defense Ministry hardened its line over US plans to sell US$6 billion worth of advanced weapons to Taiwan, the Financial Times reported. Last month, the US agreed to sell Taipei arms, including Patriot air defense missiles, Apache helicopters and parts for F-16 aircraft, which Beijing has condemned. "The US government and military have used the Taiwan issue to … ‘needle’ China, said Major General Qian Lihua, the ministry’s director of foreign affairs. "We demand the US change its ways, cancel its plans to sell weapons to Taiwan and stop its exchanges with the Taiwanese military." Qian said China had cancelled some mutual visits and other exchanges with US defense counterparts, but declined to give further details.