Weapons deals hurt all

China is justified in lodging a serious diplomatic representation and venting its anger over the decision the United States made on Wednesday to sell more arms, worth $5.852 billion to Taiwan, including upgrading F-16A/B fighter jets.

Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun summoned the US ambassador to China, Gary Locke, and warned the US move "will inevitably undermine bilateral relations as well as exchanges and cooperation in military and security areas".

The magnitude of China's official and social response indicates the US' action is intolerable. Given that a similar move by the US prompted Beijing to call off bilateral military exchanges with Washington in January last year, it should not come as a surprise that Beijing chooses to take countermeasures.