At Washington meeting China demands end to US military aid to Taiwan

Beijing [China], January 11: At a meeting of military representatives, China has called on the United States to stop arming Taiwan.
The People's Republic is not prepared to compromise on the Taiwan issue, the Ministry of Defence in Beijing announced on Wednesday. The representatives of the defence ministries of both sides met on Monday and Tuesday in Washington - just a few days before the presidential and parliamentary elections in Taiwan on Saturday.
Taiwan, with a population of more than 23 million, has had an independent government since 1949 and has developed into a vibrant democracy. However, China's leadership sees Taiwan as an inseparable part of the People's Republic and is striving for reunification, by force if necessary. Whoever forms the next government in the island republic off the south-eastern coast of the Chinese mainland could also have a significant influence on the relationship between Washington and Beijing. US support for Taiwan is a key point of contention between the two nuclear powers. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune