Separate China from US sales: KMT's Lin

“We must have our own stance and that is, we treat cross-strait affairs and weapons purchases as two separate issues. China is doing the same. For example, just because it halted military communications with the U.S., it continued to foster a better relationship with Taiwan,” he said.

Lin was responding to comments made by American and Chinese officials recently during a trip to Beijing by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Guan Youfei, the deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of China's Defense Ministry, said China had urged Washington to stop its arms sales to Taiwan because the situation across the Taiwan Strait was relatively mild and exchanges were growing each day.

“At such a moment, we are holding a stronger line against U.S. arms deals to Taiwan. The problem lies with the U.S. itself and we hope it can carefully consider that,” Guan said.

In a separate press conference, Gates reaffirmed that while the U.S. did not support Taiwan's independence, it would not waiver from its commitment to Taiwan's security based on the Taiwan Relations Act.

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