Kompas, the Indonesian newspaper with the largest circulation, has criticized the US for its arms sales to Taiwan and warned that the move will likely break the balance in the region.
The newspaper said in an editorial that the decision of the Bush Administration indicates that changes have taken place in the basic policy of the US government concerning arms sales to Taiwan, in a shift from selling defensive weapons to selling offensive ones.
It also noted that, the US decision may change the current state of the Taiwan Straits, changing the situation there into a state of uncertainty.
People have a good reason to worry that the US decision will affect the balance in the Eastern Asia which has been relatively stable to date, the newspaper said.
(People's Daily 04/27/2001)
