(EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on Feb. 3)

U.S.-China tension

Watching the mounting dispute between Washington and Beijing over the $6.4
billion arms sales to Taiwan, we are concerned about its possible impact on the
international action to denuclearize North Korea. At the moment, close
cooperation between the two countries is badly needed to bring the North back to
the six-party talks, which Pyongyang has shunned since April last year.

We have to wait and see whether the current wrangling will develop into a serious
confrontation on the global diplomatic and economic fronts or eventually fizzle
out as in previous disputes regarding weapons sales to Taiwan under past U.S.
administrations. But the intensity of the Chinese reaction in the latest dispute,
reflecting Beijing's awareness of its rapidly growing economic power and
influence, could herald unprecedented complications, so there is worry about a
possible effect on the six-way talks.
Looking at the items for transfer to Taiwan over the next few years, consisting
chiefly of Patriot anti-missile missiles, combat helicopters and mine-hunting
ships and conspicuously missing advanced fighter jets, we find the Chinese
criticism overblown. The U.S. claim that Taipei's acquisition of the defensive
weapons can better guarantee stability across the Taiwan Strait sounds more
authentic than the Chinese assertion that the arms sale would increase tension by
encouraging the pro-independence forces in Taiwan.
The United States is carrying out part of an $11 billion arms package originally
pledged to Taiwan by former President George W. Bush in 2001. President Obama is
seen to be risking a loss of Chinese cooperation in the nuclear standoff with
North Korea and Iran and the global economic and climate issues, as he is
determined to show his tough stance in entering a new relationship with China as
a rising power.
Washington officials are saying that their government was sending a message to
Beijing that "we will act in our own national security interests" however the
Chinese might react. Obama even plans to meet Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai
Lama soon.
Beijing said it was cutting off all military contacts with the United States and
warned of punitive sanctions against U.S. firms involved in the arms deal with
Taiwan. American officials seem not to take these retaliatory actions too
seriously, however. Past suspensions of military cooperation - in the form of
exchange of visits and non-strategic conferences - did not last long after
previous arms sales to Taiwan and the targeted U.S. arms producers have little
business with China yet.
Still, the friction between the world's two leading powers makes other players in
the global affairs uncomfortable. The North Korean nuclear issue, above all else,
requires effective cooperation and coordination between the United States and
China as well as South Korea, Japan and Russia. China has made extraordinary
efforts since 2003 as the host of the six-party talks as it was aware of the
danger of nuclear proliferation to regional security.
Beijing is urged to continue to play a key role in the denuclearization of North
Korea irrespective of developments like the U.S. arms sales dispute. At the same
time, we would question the Beijing leaders as to the need of more than 1,400
missiles deployed on the coast of the mainland, all aimed at the island of
Taiwan, at a time when relations across the strait are warming like never before.
They only justify Taipei's costly purchase of Patriot rockets.
(END)

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