Arms sale fallout

BEIJING - Some high-level military exchanges scheduled to take place between the Chinese mainland and the United States will be affected by the latest US arms sales to Taiwan, Defense Ministry Spokesman Geng Yansheng said on Wednesday at a regular news conference.

Geng said the arms sales will also affect some planned joint exercises and other major events between China and the US.

Geng's comments marked the first time that the Chinese mainland has officially announced counter measures against the US for its arms sales to Taiwan, which "severely jeopardized" Sino-US military relations.