Despite Beijing's repeated protests and warnings of serious consequences for Sino-US relations, Washington, as always, went its own way over the weekend and gave the nod to a massive arms sale package to Taiwan.

This is the stance the US has taken vis-a-vis a "stakeholder" - and sometimes "constructive partner" - terms that it uses to describe China's ties with the world and itself.

Uncle Sam's $6.4 billion arms package to equip Taiwan, including Patriot anti-missile systems, Black Hawk helicopters and Harpoon missiles, reminds us how grudgingly Washington sees China's rise and its unwillingness to see compatriots across the Straits live in peace.