Taiwan people in favor of reunification protested against the US arms sales to Taiwan, condemning the US for trying to damage cross-Straits peace and stability and calling for the Taiwan government to reject the deal.

The preparation committee for the Cross-Straits Peace Development Forum issued a statement protesting the proposed arms sale to Taiwan by the US, and criticized the US for its "Cold War" mentality in containing China, saying the deal harms China's national security and threatens peace in East Asia, Hong Kong-based China Review News reported on Monday.

The preparation committee for the Cross-Straits Peace Development Forum consists of civilian groups in Taiwan that favor reunification with the motherland. They include the Alliance for the Reunification of China, the Taiwan Labor Party and the China Foundation.

The statement also condemned the US for trying to break cross-Straits stability and peace and manipulate Taiwan's political situation. It emphasized that mutual political trust is the foundation for cross-Straits reconciliation and cooperation.

It said it is wrong for Taiwan to pursue cross-Straits reconciliation and to benefit from cross-Straits trade on the one hand, but, on the other hand, buy weapons from the US, bringing external forces into China's internal affairs and damaging the foundation for cross-Straits mutual trust that should be nurtured by the two sides.

It also warned that if Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou pursues the deal, the move is likely to destroy the current peaceful development, especially when the two sides are negotiating for the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, a deal that will liberalize trade and investment.

The committee suggested the Ma administration should use the budget for the well-being of the Taiwan people rather than give the money to US military suppliers.

Chen Xiancai, a researcher at the Taiwan Studies Center in Xiamen University, said the statement made by the civil societies can at least represent some of the Taiwan people, but will not have much influence on the government's decision making.

"The majority of Taiwan people want to maintain peace and stability with the Chinese mainland for business concerns, but at the same time they are afraid of the mainland," Chen said.

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（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）

Todd Balazovic is a reporter for the Metro Section of China Daily. Born in Mineapolis Minnesota in the US, he graduated from Central Michigan University and has worked for China Daily for one year.