ANKARA (AA) - Chinese Foreign Ministry ignores worries on Tuesday over air defense missile system deal with Turkey after the US and NATO raised their objection to the deal.
Turkey has chosen the Chinese bidder on 26 September to co-produce long range missile system, a critical component for the country’s defense in the face of heightened danger spilling out of the Syrian civil war.
Immediately after the selection became public, the US and NATO raised their voice against Chinese firms saying that Chinese system is not interoperable with NATO system and Chinese company is blacklisted by the US. Turkey has defended its choice on the ground that Chinese offered the lowest price and co-production with Turkey.
Chinese side broke its silence on Tuesday and defended the missile deal. Chinese FM spokesperson Hua Chunying said “Relevant cooperation between the Chinese company and Turkey is defense trade cooperation under normal circumstances. We hope that relevant parties could be objective and rational, instead of politicizing normal business competition.” She also stated that Chinese government carries out defense deal “in a prudent and responsible manner.”
Turkey hopes to finalize the deal within 6 months.
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