BEIJING - Some high-level military exchanges scheduled to take place between the Chinese mainland and the United States will be affected by the latest US arms sales to Taiwan, Defense Ministry Spokesman Geng Yansheng said on Wednesday at a regular news conference.

Geng said the arms sales will also affect some planned joint exercises and other major events between China and the US.

Geng's comments marked the first time that the Chinese mainland has officially announced counter measures against the US for its arms sales to Taiwan, which "severely jeopardized" Sino-US military relations.

In spite of Beijing's repeated protests, the US announced on Sept 21 another arms package worth $5.852 billion to Taiwan, which included the upgrading of F-16 A/B fighter jets.

The last US arms sale to Taiwan in 2010, worth $6.4 billion, halted bilateral military exchanges for a year.

China Daily

(China Daily 09/29/2011 page11)