Commentary: U.S. sends wrong message by continuing arms sale to Taiwan

The Obama Administration's authorization of a billion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan will have an adverse impact on the cross-Strait peace development as well as the China-U.S. relationship.

The 1.83-billion-dollar deal came at a very sensitive time as the leader's election in Taiwan, an integral part of China's sovereign territory, is just a month away.

No doubt, the U.S. move runs against the tide of peaceful development in the past decade between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Thanks to the sincerity and vision of the leaders on both sides, cross-Strait exchanges, consultations and political interaction have reached an unprecedented level since 1949, as highlighted by the historic meeting between Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou in Singapore last month.

However, the latest U.S. arms sale will set back the positive momentum as it serves the interests of those seeking Taiwan's independence.

It will only embolden the separatists on the island, who consider Washington as their patron, to take reckless steps to damage peace and stability across the Strait. This could have serious ramifications on peace, stability and prosperity in the whole region.

Meanwhile, the deal is also detrimental to the China-U.S. relationship as it creates fresh tension between the two major countries.

If not for the U.S. move, the China-U.S. relationship could have ended on a relatively positive footing in 2015.

The two sides have just cooled down a heated dispute over cyber security by convening the first ministerial dialogue on fighting cyber crimes in Washington early the month.

Earlier in September, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a successful state visit to the United States, during which he and his counterpart Barack Obama reached consensus on continuing on the path of building a new model of major-country ties.

The two countries also cooperated well to help ensure the just-concluded UN climate conference in Paris a success.

All these boded well for the China-U.S. ties in the coming year, until Washington decided to go ahead with the arms sale to Taiwan.

Washington bases its arms sales to Taiwan on a fallacy of protecting the island from so-called military threat from the mainland. But it deliberately ignores China's unmistakable stance over the issue: it seeks peaceful reunification and will never use force against the island as along as it does not announce independence or seek to split from the mainland.

By continuing weapon sales to Taiwan, the United States has broken its promises made in the three joint communiques with China, especially its promise in the Aug. 17, 1982 Joint Communique that it would gradually scale back and eventually stop its arms sale to Taiwan.

Certain U.S. politicians with Cold War mentality might take pleasure in provoking China by interfering in China's internal affairs such as the Taiwan issue, thinking that Washington can do anything to serve its own interests.

But they should bear in mind that China has unshakable determination to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in the long run, the United States may have to pay a price for its counterproductive moves against China.

And once again, it needs to be pointed out that the trend toward the eventual reunification of China is unstoppable, no matter what Uncle Sam does or will do. Endi