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China's reaction to the U.S. announcement of a large arms sales package for Taiwan suggests that 20 months after Taipei replaced hostility with co-operation in its dealings with the mainland, Beijing still believes it will ultimately need to use force to bring about unification.

The vociferous reaction, which includes not only suspending military-to-military relations with the United States but also sanctions against the U.S. producers and suppliers, appears to suggest that Beijing does not appreciate the fact that Barack Obama's administration ensured the weapons are purely defensive in nature.