US arms sales to Taiwan are an "obvious factor" that may cause friction between Washington and Beijing, Chinese analysts said yesterday, responding to Hillary Clinton's hint that the new US administration may continue the sales.
　　Clinton, President Barack Obama's secretary of state, affirmed on Monday that there will be no change in Washington's policy on arms sales to Taiwan.
　　"And under the Taiwan Relations Act, there is a clear provision that the United States will provide support for Taiwan's defense. And that is why there have been, over the many years, the sale of defensive materials to Taiwan," Clinton said.
　　She said US policy with respect to Taiwan "remains as it has been" because it is based on Washington's long-standing "one-China" policy, the three communiqus with China and the Taiwan Relations Act, passed by the US Congress in 1979.
　　"Keeping arms sale to Taiwan is an obvious signal that may lead to frictions (between the mainland and the US)," Professor Niu Xinchun of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations said yesterday.
　　Niu also said the Obama administration would not change the current policy on Taiwan in the short term.
　　"The US is comfortable with the current situation as it feels little pressure," he said. "But the only trouble is the arms sale problem."
　　According to media reports, Clinton, who departed on Sunday for a four-nation Asia visit, made the remarks in an interview during her flight to Japan, her first stop.
　　She is to arrive in Beijing on Friday, after also stopping in Indonesia and South Korea.
　　Professor Pang Zhongying of the Renmin University of China said Clinton would "certainly" raise sensitive issues between Washington and Beijing because she has to cope with domestic pressure.
　　"But she would only do so on proper occasions," Pang said.
　　"The US has entered an era of cooperation (with Asia)", Pang added.