China unhappy but relieved

China says the arms sales is a violation of its sovereignty

By Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Beijing

Beijing is clearly extremely unhappy at the arms package Washington is reported to be offering Taiwan.

In its first response, China's Foreign Ministry called the arms sales a grave violation of China's sovereignty and a rude interference in its internal affairs.

The arms package being offered to Taiwan will reportedly include four powerful navy destroyers, eight diesel submarines and sophisticated submarine hunting aircraft.

These are the most advanced weapons to be sold to Taiwan by any country in at least a decade.

Far from hysterical

But while Beijing's initial response is robust it is far from being hysterical.

China may be waiting for Washington to make a formal announcement of the deal before making a full response.

But the measured tone may also reflect relief here that the arms package does not include the most sophisticated weapons Taiwan had been asking for, in particular the Aegis naval air defence system.

Beijing has made it clear the sale of the Aegis system to Taiwan would have been tantamount to Washington declaring a new military alliance with an island that China claims is an integral part of its own territory.