The United States has approved to sell a US$1.7 billion radar early warning system to Taiwan.

　　The Defense Security Cooperation Agency of the US Department of Defense has approved the sale of the ultra-high frequency system.

　　But China yesterday expressed strong displeasure and firm opposition to the proposal.

　　Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said in Beijing that such a move seriously violated the principles set forth in the three China-US joint communiques, in particular the August 17 communique on arms sales.

　　It also sent a wrong signal to the separatist forces seeking Taiwan independence and would lead to further tension in the situation across the Taiwan Strait and sabotage the common interests of China and the US, he said.

　　"We will urge the US to stand by its commitments rather than send the wrong message to the Taiwanese authorities," Kong said.

　　The US is Taiwan's biggest arms supplier.

　　"We've always objected to the US selling advanced weapons to Taiwan," Kong said.

　　China plans to seek clarification from the US government, he said.

　　He reiterated that the Taiwan issue remained the most important and sensitive core issue in China-US relations.

　　"On the Taiwan issue, which is related to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, we show no tolerance to any move that is harmful to China's core interest by any outside force," he said.

　　China demands the US cancel relevant wrong decisions so as to avoid sabotaging the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and China-US cooperation, he said.

　　Also yesterday, China said it called on the US to avoid official contact with Taiwan.

　　Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, meeting US Secretary of State Colin Powell in Berlin on Wednesday, urged Washington to oppose Taiwan independence.

　　Li said Taiwan's elections last month have not changed the fact that Taiwan is part of China.

　　He urged the US to refrain from any official contact with the Taiwan authorities.

　　Powell agreed to stick to Washington's one-China policy and not support any form of Taiwan independence.

　　Powell said the US values its relations with China and is willing to make joint efforts with China for the continued development of bilateral relations.

　　Li said that US Vice President Dick Cheney will visit China this month and Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi will travel to the US later in the month to attend a conference of the Sino-US Joint Commercial and Trade Commission.

　　The two sides should make joint efforts for the visits to yield positive results, Li said.

　　Powell said Cheney is looking forward to a successful visit to China and the US side is also preparing for Wu's visit.

　　Meanwhile in Taiwan, the opposition yesterday threatened to wage an endless battle over the disputed vote if Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian doesn't form a special taskforce to probe the mysterious shooting that wounded him one day before the election.

　　The new flare-up between Chen and the opposition came one day before the two sides planned to meet High Court judges and decide how to proceed with a recount for the March 20 vote, which Chen narrowly won.

　　Opposition candidate Lien Chan alleges the vote was flawed by irregularities.

　　He has also insinuated that the shooting might have been staged by Chen to gain sympathy votes.

　　(Xinhua/AP)