During his recent tour to the United States, General Chen Bingde, chief of General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), said the arms sales to Taiwan represented US interference in the domestic affairs of another country and are a "hegemonic" approach.

His indignation is legitimate as far as China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity are concerned.

Ever since China and the US established diplomatic relations, the US arms sales to Taiwan have been a stumbling stock to healthy military-to-military exchanges.

China cut its defense ties with the United States last year after Washington announced weapons sales of more than $6 billion to Taiwan. Ties were only renewed when the US Defense Secretary Robert Gates made his China visit in January. The recent top-level PLA delegation to the US, led by Chen, is the first in seven years.

The US military alone can do little as long as Washington's policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged.

Under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which partly defines US policies toward Taiwan and the Chinese mainland, the Pentagon assumes the obligation to provide Taiwan "sufficient defensive arms" to ensure its security.

However, given the increasing interdependence of China and the US today, and the commitment by both governments to build a cooperative partnership in the 21st century, soul-searching has started both within and outside the US administration.

In his remarks at the Pentagon, Chen said he was told there are the first stirrings of change.

"Since I've arrived in the United States, I've had the opportunity to talk to some members of Congress and some of them told me, they too think it is time for the United States to review this legislation," said Chen.

In the latest issue of the influential magazine Foreign Affairs, Charles Glaser, a professor with George Washington University, argued that since less-than-vital interests - such as Taiwan - might cause conflict between the two countries, "the United States should consider backing away from its commitment to Taiwan. This would remove the most obvious and contentious flash point between the United States and China and smooth the way for better relations between them in the decades to come".

Admiral Joseph Prueher, former commander-in-chief of the US Pacific Command and former ambassador to China, also called on Washington to re-examine its relationship with Taiwan in an academic report in January.

"A peaceful resolution of the long standing Taiwan question, acceptable on both sides of the Straits, would indeed be a boon to stability in East Asia, as well as to US-China relations. It is also an issue where progress can be made," he said.

Speaking to her counterpart during the Sino-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton paraphrased a Chinese expression in the hope that both sides would make efforts to smooth bilateral relations: "When confronted by mountains, one finds a way through."

As far as the issue of arms sales to Taiwan is concerned, the US holds the key to remove the "mountain" that stands in the way of a healthy, stable and sustainable relationship with China.

(China Daily 05/27/2011 page8)