http://n.yam.com/cna/international/200901/20090109558679.html
五角大廈：美對台軍售政策將持續進行
中央社╱中央社 2009-01-09 11:17
（中央社記者蔡蕙如華盛頓8日專電）美中軍事交流在美國宣布65億美元對台軍售後中止，而這是否會影響美國對台軍售？美國五角大廈發言人指出，關於對台軍售，美國政策為長期且有良好理解，並將繼續進行。
發言人說，這項政策近乎30年來已促成和平與穩定，而這兩者都是共榮的基礎。
五角大廈發言人惠特曼（Bryan Whitman）是在被問及五角大樓是否會取消對台軍售，作為恢復美中軍事交流的條件時，對「華盛頓時報」記者作以上表示。
根據華盛頓時報「五角圈內」專欄，美國國防部副助理部長謝偉森（David Sedney）上個月曾赴北京，討論恢復因美國對台軍售而中止的軍事交流。
專欄說，謝偉森試圖說服中國軍方，恢復雙方交流計劃將有利美中關係。然而，不願具名的官員指出，中國仍持續中止美中之間的軍事交流計畫。
五角大廈發言人惠特曼在被問及這項會面時，則未提及中國停止交流一事。他表示，謝偉森與中國總參謀長助理陳小工及中國國防部外事辦公室主任錢利華之間的討論，包括「區域和全球國防議題與美中國防關係」。
他說，這些討論「坦率、有成果且有建設性，將作為雙邊軍方建立更強有力關係的基礎」。
惠特曼也表示，這次會議為重要時刻，可「反思考量美中過去30年來軍事關係發展」。他說，雙方還試圖「期待」與「探索我們可加強合作的領域」。
惠特曼並指出，謝偉森告訴中國，美國方面「歡迎2008年雙方軍事關係進展」。他提到了五角大廈與中國國防部的電話熱線，以及核武政策與策略的會談。
此外，雙方也論及為發展規劃2009年軍事交流「設定一個框架」。
根據華盛頓時報，謝偉森是在12月17至19日訪中。會談中雙方關切的議題，包括區域安全和跨國安全、恐怖主義、武器擴散，以及南亞與中亞、伊朗和非洲之角的海盜猖獗問題。
惠特曼表示：「總的來說，我們同意國防關係向前邁進是重要的」。不過，華盛頓時報也指出，中國軍方報紙「解放軍日報」12月19日報導，「美中軍事關係目前正經歷困難時期，責任不在中方。」
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/08/classified-spillage/?page=3
Inside the Ring
Bill Gertz INSIDE THE RING (Contact)
Thursday, January 8, 2009
China exchanges
The Pentagon's most senior China policy official went to Beijing last month to discuss resuming military exchanges that were halted by China over the announced $6.5 billion arms package to Taiwan.
Defense officials said David Sedney, deputy assistant secretary of defense, was in China from Dec. 17-19 and sought to convince Chinese military officials that resuming the exchange program will be in the interest of U.S.-China relations.
However, according to the officials who declined to be named because of the sensitivities of the exchanges, China is continuing its halt of the military exchange program, which is a centerpiece of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' policy of seeking to develop confidence-building ties to the Chinese military.
Asked about the meetings, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman did not address the Chinese halt in an e-mail response. He said discussions between Mr. Sedney and Chinese Lt. Gen. Chen Xiaogong, assistant chief of the general staff, and Maj. Gen. Qian Lihua, director of the Defense Ministry Foreign Affairs Office, included "regional and global defense issues and U.S.-China defense relations."
"The discussions were candid, productive and constructive and will serve as a foundation upon which our two militaries can build toward a stronger relationship," Mr. Whitman stated.
China halted the exchanges, which have been under way since the late 1990s, after the Pentagon notified Congress in October that it planned to sell Taiwan $6.5 billion in arms, including advanced Patriot missile defenses, Apache attack helicopters and submarine-launched anti-ship missiles.
Mr. Whitman said the meeting was an important time to "reflect upon the course of development of U.S.-China military-to-military relations over the past 30 years, highlighting more recent developments that have contributed to improved communications and enhanced understanding."
The two sides also tried to "look forward" and "explore areas where we can improve cooperation," he said.
Without addressing the Chinese halt in exchanges, Mr. Whitman said Mr. Sedney told the Chinese that the U.S. side "welcomes the progress in military-to-military relations during 2008." He noted the launch of a Pentagon-to-Defense Ministry telephone hot line and the first round of talks on nuclear weapons policy and strategy.
Additionally, the two sides talked about "setting a framework" for developing and planning the 2009 military-to-military contacts, he said.
"They encouraged greater substance and the PLA movement toward transparency, both in our defense exchanges as well as globally," Mr. Whitman said. "They encouraged more substantive interactions at a strategic and policy level, as well as among mid-grade and junior officers and between military educational institutions."
Topics of mutual concern during the talks included regional security and transnational security, including terrorism, arms proliferation, and piracy in South and Central Asia, Iran and the Horn of Africa.
"Overall, we agreed with the Chinese that it is important to move forward in our defense relations," Mr. Whitman said.
Asked if the Pentagon will cancel its arms sale to Taiwan as a condition for resuming military exchanges, Mr. Whitman said: "With respect to Taiwan arms sales, the U.S. policy is longstanding, well-understood, and will continue. The policy has contributed to peace and stability - both foundations for shared prosperity - for almost 30 years."
The Chinese military's official newspaper Liberation Army Daily reported Dec. 19 that "China-U.S. military relations are currently going through a difficult period, and the onus is not on the Chinese side."
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