TAIPEI - THE $6.5-billion (S$9.4 billion) US arms sale to Taiwan heralds warming ties between Washington and Taipei after years of mistrust under the previous Taiwanese president, Taiwan officials said on Saturday.

China denounced the US government's decision to sell arms to Taiwan worth up to 6.5 billion dollars, according to state media.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said the Chinese government and people firmly opposed the move, which seriously damaged China's interests and Sino-US relations, Xinhua news agency said.

Earlier, analysts said on Saturday the sale was unlikely to increase tensions between Beijing and Washington since the approval comes near the end of US President George W. Bush's administration.

'The deal shows that Taiwan and the United States have developed a strong trust between both sides,' Mr Tony Wang, Taiwan presidential office spokesman, told a news conference.

'This is a stark contrast compared to the previous administration when there was a lot of mistrust,' Mr Wang said.

Taiwan-US ties were frayed under ex-president Chen Shui bian, whose independence-leaning rhetoric sparked tensions with Beijing and Washington and delayed US plans to sell weapons to the island.

On Friday, the arms-sales freeze ended, with the United States planning to sell weapons to Taiwan, including 30 Boeing Apache attack helicopters, 330 Patriot missiles and 32 Harpoon submarine-launched missiles.

In addition to Boeing, major contractors will include General Electric for engines, Lockheed Martin Corp, Northrop Grumman Corp, Raytheon Co and Britain's BAE Systems.

The Pentagon said the arms sales were consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, which obliges Washington to help Taipei defend itself.

US lawmakers could block the deal in 30 days, though analysts said this was highly unlikely as it would ensure stability across the Taiwan Strait, seen as one of Asia's most dangerous flashpoints.

'The US move not only helps boost our defence capabilities, it is also instrumental in ensuring stability across the Taiwan Strait,' Ms Chi Yu Lan, defence ministry spokesman, told a separate news conference.

China officials were not immediately available for comment.

Relations between Beijing and Taipei had been tense under Chen, but have since improved after China-friendly President Ma Ying-jeou took office in May.

China sees the self-ruled, democratic island as its own.

Taiwan says China has hundreds of missiles aimed at the island and wants the United States to stick to the Taiwan Relations Act to help in its defence capabilities with US weapon sales.

'On paper, sales have been frozen since Ma's election,' said Mr Jean-Pierre Cabestan, China expert and head of the politics department at Hong Kong Baptist University.

'It's much better now for the US and for China, because China can digest this sale much better now than if it's made by the new administration. It won't have much consequence on the next administration. It's good timing.' -- REUTERS, AFP