'Washington sending arms to Taiwan': China halts arms control talks with US

China on Wednesday said it has suspended the crucial arms control and non-proliferation talks with the US, accusing Washington of continuing arms sales to Taiwan.

Announcing this, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian said the US continued sales of weapons to self-ruled Taiwan, which China claims as a rebel province that must be reunified with the mainland, even by force.

He said that despite Beijing's opposition, the US actions had severely damaged the political atmosphere necessary for continued arms control consultations between the two sides.

China has decided to suspend talks with the US on holding a new round of arms control and non-proliferation consultations, Lin told a media briefing here.

The responsibility for this situation lies entirely with the US, he said, squarely blaming Washington for the disruption of the talks.

China was willing to maintain communication with the US on the issue but only on the condition that the US must respect China's core interests and