China on Tuesday urged the United States to end arms sales to Taiwan after the U.S. administration was reported to have agreed the sale of another package of arms.

"Once again, we urge the United States to fully recognize the sensitivity and damage of arms sales to Taiwan," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a regular briefing on Tuesday.

Ma made the comments a day after senior U.S. congressional aides told the media the Obama administration had decided to approve an arms package for Taiwan.

With advanced Patriot missiles on the list, the package will be the first arms sales to Taiwan approved by the Obama administration.

"China's opposition to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan has been consistent, clear and unswerving," Ma said, stressing China had made several representations to the United States regarding the issue.

Ma urged the United States to observe three China-U.S. joint communiques, particularly the "August 17 Communique" signed in 1982, in which the United States agreed to gradually reduce its arms sales to Taiwan.

Ma stressed the arms sales would jeopardize the overall China-U.S. cooperation, but he did not say what actions China would take in response to the U.S. move.

In 2008, China curtailed military exchanges with the United States after the Bush administration approved a $6.5-billion Taiwan arms deal, including 30 Apache attack helicopters and 330 Patriot missiles.

In response to another question concerning the prospect of China-U.S. relations following the Google row, Ma underscored the importance of respecting each other's core interests and properly handling sensitive issues.

"If you look back at the past year, you'll find China-U.S. relationship generally maintained a stable momentum of growth, which didn't come easily and needed to be cherished," Ma said, attributing the stable ties to both countries' concerted efforts.

Unlike his predecessors, U.S. President Barack Obama made his maiden state visit to China in the first year of his presidency. Presidents of both countries agreed to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship for the 21st Century.

"A sound China-U.S. relationship serves the fundamental interests of both countries and their people and works for world peace, stability and prosperity," Ma said.

Ma proposed more dialogue and cooperation in an effort to move ahead the sound China-U.S. relationship.

(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2010)