China yesterday said that it is "strongly displeased and firmly opposed" to a visit to Taiwan by a Pentagon official to discuss anti-missile co-operation and US weapons sales to the island.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said in a press release the military exchanges and co-operation between the United States and Taiwan have violated the principles of past communiquis.

The US promised in a major communiqui, signed on August 17, 1982, that it would gradually reduce its arms sale to the island, leading to "a final resolution."

Warning that this week's move will send the wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces, Kong urged the United States to clearly recognize the damage it could cause on such a sensitive issue.

The US should adhere to the promises it has made on the issue to avoid impairing its relations with China, said Kong.

It has been reported that a group of 10 officials from the United States led by Mary Tighe, chief in charge of Asia- Pacific security affairs at the US Department of Defense, arrived in Taipei early this week to evaluate Taiwan's defense capability.

Kong also said China opposed the passing of a bill by the US House of Representatives to support Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization (WHO).

As a part of China, Taiwan is not qualified to join or assume observer status at the World Health Assembly because members of the global body are sovereign states, noted Kong.

Between 1997 and 2001, the assembly rejected five consecutive proposals for Taiwan to take part in it as an observer.

At a regular briefing yesterday, Kong said that an advance group from the United States has visited China to prepare for US Vice-President Dick Cheney's scheduled trip to China next month.

The group talked over matters of protocol for the visit, according to Kong.

(China Daily March 14, 2003)