WASHINGTON - A senior Chinese official on Thursday expressed opposition to US arms sales to Taiwan, saying it harms China-US relations, and is negative to the development of cross-strait relations.

During his meeting in Washington with US experts on China at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Wang Yi, director of China's State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, noted recent public and media attention to the arms sales issue, saying the Chinese mainland opposes such sales.

Wang, who is visiting the United States, said that arms sales to Taiwan harms China-US relations, and has a clear negative impact on development of cross-strait relations as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. He said that now may be the time for stakeholders to sit down, and make a comprehensive and long-term examination on how to appropriately handle the issue.

Wang said recent claims that the Chinese mainland poses military threat to Taiwan harms the relaxed atmosphere in cross- strait relations. He stressed the mainland's military disposition stems from its own defense needs, and is definitely not directed at Taiwan compatriots. Wang said if the Taiwan authorities can uphold the one-China position and denounce "Taiwan independence," the risk of splitting the country will not exist, and there is no necessity or basis for hyping the so-called military threats by the Chinese mainland.

Wang further urged both sides to resolve peacefully other outstanding political differences, and vowed that the Chinese mainland will continue to strive for peace across Taiwan Straits, and ease military concerns. He reiterated the mainland's determination to defend the unity and territorial integrity of the country as well as the basic and long-term interests of the Chinese people.

Wang said that his visit to the United States is aimed at making clear that peaceful development of cross-strait relations is not easy to come by, and it is in the interest of the people on both sides of the strait to maintain the situation. It is also conducive to the common interest of China and the United States to push for the peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue. He stressed that stakeholders cannot let the peaceful development of cross- strait relations to stay in stagnation or even regress. He called for compatriots across the Taiwan Straits to join hands and eliminate disturbances to the process.

CSIS experts expressed that the recent improvement and development in cross-strait relations is conducive to the common interests of both the United States and China. They expressed expectation that the cross-strait relationship can maintain its momentum in peaceful development, and not regress, and that the cross-strait situation keeps its stability and peace, and not tension.