China Prepares ‘Hot Seat’ for US Envoy on Taiwan, Currency

Posted October 10th, 2011 at 6:45 am (UTC-5)
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China says it will express its displeasure over the latest U.S. arms sales to Taiwan during talks in Beijing Tuesday with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell.

Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai, who will represent China in the talks, said Monday that the $5.85 billion sale announced last month will harm relations between the United States and China.

Cui also criticized a bill being debated in the U.S. Senate that would provide for new tariffs against countries that manipulate their currencies. He said if the bill becomes law, it will spark a trade war that will be damaging for both countries.

Campbell will travel to Beijing from Hong Kong, where he defended the U.S. consulate against charges it has been interfering in political affairs by talking to advocates of democratic reform. Details of some of the conversations have been published by the website WikiLeaks.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Campbell said the consulate will remain deeply engaged in all aspects of life in the autonomous Chinese territory.