TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) - Taiwan’s top China negotiator said Monday that the U.S. decision to sell $6.4 billion in arms to the island will not affect steadily improving ties between Taipei and Beijing.

Chiang Pin-kung’s comments came amid strong Chinese protests against the planned American sales, which were announced in late January.

Reacting to the deal, China suspended military exchanges with Washington and threatened sanctions against U.S. defense companies making weapons available to Taiwan. However, China did not criticize Taipei over the issue.

Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949. Beijing continues to claim the island as part of its territory. It regards U.S. arms sales to Taiwan as unacceptable interference in its internal affairs.

Speaking to reporters Monday, Chiang said arms procurement from the U.S. is long-standing Taiwanese policy.

The latest arms package "should not have any impact on ongoing China talks and the future development of bilateral ties," he said.

Since Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou took office in May 2008, he has moved aggressively to improve relations with China, jettisoning his predecessor’s pro-independence policies.

Regular flights and shipping services across the 100-mile- (160-kilometer-) wide Taiwan Strait have been inaugurated, and regulations for cross-strait investment liberalized.

The jewel in the crown of Ma’s approach is a partial free trade agreement with Beijing, which would reduce tariff barriers, further liberalize investment regulations and create new structures for financial cooperation.