China reaches out to Taiwan, warns US on arms sales

BEIJING, Mar 3 (Reuters) A top Chinese Communist Party official avoided threatening rhetoric in a warning to Taiwanese separatists today while another official urged the US not to sell Taiwan arms.

''Resolutely oppose and contain Taiwan separatist forces and their activities, and protect and promote the peaceful and stable development of cross-strait relations,'' Jia Qinglin told the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a largely symbolic advisory council that meets once a year.

Also today, Chinese officials warned visiting US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte over arms sales to Taiwan.

Taiwan will hold an election in 2008 to choose a successor to President Chen Shui-bian, whose pro-independence steps have infuriated Beijing. Hoping that a candidate favouring eventual reunification will be elected, Beijing has been choosing its words about Taiwan with great care.

Beijing says reunifying with Taiwan is a supreme national goal and rejects any possibility of full independence for the self-governed island that fell away from mainland control after Nationalist forces fled there in 1949.

China repeatedly said has it will not rule out using armed force if Taiwan opts for full independence, but Jia avoided such language in his speech before hundreds of officially-approved academics, artists and members of minor parties that support the Communist Party.

Jia, a member of the ruling Communist Party's inner circle whose reputation has been shadowed by widespread claims of past corruption, said China wanted relations with Taiwan to ''develop in a peaceful and stable direction''.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told Negroponte that Washington should halt arms sales to Taiwan. The Pentagon told Congress this week it had approved the possible sale of up to 421 million dollar in missiles to Taiwan for use on its F-16 fighter jets.

''Don't send any erroneous signals to Taiwan separatist forces, and together with China protect the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait,'' Yang told Negroponte, who arrived in Beijing today for two days of talks.

Washington recognises China and has no diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but is obliged under the Taiwan Relations Act to help the island defend itself.

On Monday, China's national parliament also begins its annual session.

REUTERS SY KP2210