At a time when Chinese officials and non-governmental analysts have been highly confused by the unusually strong line taken by Mrs Hilary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, in support of Internet freedom in the wake of Google's threat to stop censoring its search engine in China and its protests over alleged Chinese web snooping into the Google mail accounts of Chinese political dissidents and Tibetan and Uighur nationalists, they have been in for another shock by the decision of the administration of President Barack Obama to notify the Congress on January 29, 2010, of its plans to sell a fresh package of arms to Taiwan in disregard of Chinese protests and sensitivities on the subject.
Mrs.Clinton's strong statement on the question of Internet freedom has already given rise to Chinese allegations of the US reverting to its past policy of "information imperialism" and adopting double standards with regard to restrictions on the Internet in the interest of national security. As a result, earlier speculation and even expectations that the Chinese authorities and Google could reach a face-saving compromise to facilitate the continued operation of the Google in the Chinese market have been belied so far.
The continuing controversy over the Google was till now viewed by the Chinese authorities as an aberration and not as reflective of any change of policy by the Obama Administration towards China. However, the Administration&'s notification to the Congress of its plan to sell to Taiwan US $ 6.4 billion worth of Patriot missiles, Black Hawk helicopters and minesweepers has come as a second surprise to Beijing. It is learnt that the Chinese authorities were aware for some time that the sale of this package was under the consideration of the Obama Administration, but were confident that after the smooth visit of Mr Obama to China in November last and the importance attached by him to China's role as an Asian power with stakes even in South Asia, he will not go ahead with the sale.
His surprise (to the Chinese) decision to go ahead with the sale has evoked strong resentment in official circles and has been strongly criticized by non-governmental analysts, who have accused him of being insincere and projected his decision as a wake-up call to China about the real Obama.
In its strong reaction within 24 hours of the notification, the Chinese government has suspended (not cancelled) all military exchanges with the US. Mr Qian Lihua, Director of the Foreign Affairs office of the Chinese Defence Ministry, lodged a strong protest with the US Defence Attaché in Beijing. A press release issued by his office on the protest said: