China protests US mistaken delivery
BEIJING (AP) - March 26, 2008 In a statement posted on the ministry's Web site, Foreign
Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said China had brought a "serious
representation" to Washington and expressed "strong displeasure"
over the error.
The U.S. Defense Department said Tuesday that the Air Force had
mistakenly shipped to Taiwan four electrical fuses designed for use
on intercontinental ballistic missiles. The fuses have since been
recovered and an investigation launched.
While the shipment did not include nuclear materials, the error
is particularly sensitive because Beijing vehemently opposes U.S.
arms sales to Taiwan, the self-governed island that China considers
its own territory. Four of the cone-shaped fuses were shipped to
Taiwanese officials in fall 2006 instead of the helicopter
batteries they had ordered.
"We ... demand the U.S. side thoroughly investigate this
matter, and report to China in a timely matter the details of the
situation and eliminate the negative effects and disastrous
consequences created by this incident," the statement said.
Qin again demanded an end to such weapons sales and
military-to-military contacts between Washington and Taipei in
order to "avoid damaging peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait
and the healthy development of China-U.S. relations."