Chinese general warns Pentagon on surveillance, build-up ‘hype’ and Taiwan

China’s top military officer warned the U.S. over its arms sales to Taiwan and said better relations between the U.S. and Beijing is hampered by U.S. support for the island’s defenses.

Gen. Xu Caihou, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the comments in meetings with U.S. officials last week, including Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, National Security Adviser James Jones and Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg. The three were chastised and warned not to hype China’s military build up or stress allegations of the military threat from Beijing, including the annual Pentagon report on China’s military power. The Chi-Com General’s warning seem to have had immediate effect including:

·         No U.S. officials who briefed reporters on the talks even mentioned the criticism.

·         Not one U.S. news reports carried the general’s critique

However, state-run Chinese media carried details of the internal discussions including Xu’s criticism of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

The China News Agency in Hong Kong reported October 28 that Xu identified four barriers to improved military relations, including Taiwan arms sales and U.S. maritime surveillance.

That report said Xu told U.S. officials that Washington must ultimately end arms sales to Taiwan, a policy he said was outlined in secret U.S.-China Joint Communiqués governing relations.

Xu said Taiwan is a core interest of Beijing that “obstructs” development of ties between the PLA and the U.S. military. If the United States correctly handles Taiwan, he said, relations will improve.

It is the harshest public warning yet from China that is clearly feeling new potential to force a U. S. retreat from the region with a longer term goal of pushing it out of the Western Pacific.

Xu also criticized activities of U.S. surveillance ships that he said violated China’s exclusive economic zones. The United States should strictly abide by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and even Chinese domestic laws.

The Pentagon has said Chinese naval vessels have harassed U.S. naval surveillance ships in international waters on several occasions. The Pentagon has sought to play down the incidents.

Xu also criticized the 2000 Defense Authorization Act, which prevents the U.S. from assisting China with any power projection or nuclear capabilities.

Obama is enroute to the region for a mid-month parley. A trip that some believe will see him announce even more concessions and that is increasing alarm among hitherto allies feeling even more abandoned by the Obama policy..