Article Posted on : - Sep 27, 2013

A P-3C Orion patrol aircraft. Photo: US Navy

BEIJING (PTI): Taiwan has received the first of 12 anti-submarine aircraft from the US, prompting objection from China as it asked Washington to adhere to its commitment to one-China policy and stop selling weapons to Taipei.

The P-3C Orion patrol aircraft landed at an air base in southern Pingtung County yesterday, which reportedly will expand the surveillance range of Taipei's anti-submarine fleet tenfold. The other 11 planes are scheduled for delivery by 2015, a report said.

"China firmly opposes arms sale to Taiwan by any country this position is clear cut and consistent," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a media briefing here on Thursday.

"We urge the US to honour One China Policy and the principals enshrined in the three Joint Communiques, stop any form of arm sale to Taiwan and stop doing things that are detrimental to China-US relations and the peaceful growth of bilateral cross straits relations," he said.

The US agreed in 2007 to sell Taiwan the refurbished P-3C Orion patrol aircraft. The P-3C fleet, which will cost around USD 1.96 billion, is intended to replace the island's ageing S-2T anti-submarine aircraft to carry out maritime patrol and reconnaissance.

China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has refused to rule out the use of force against the island. The two sides split in 1949 after a civil war.