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Beijing and Washington are at odds again after reports the US could soon announce another sale of military arms to Taiwan. Taiwan and China are governed separately and share a sometimes tense relationship.

China has criticized the US for selling arms to Taiwan in the past, and White House experts say China could break off recently-reestablished military contact with the US as a way of showing its displeasure if the latest sale goes ahead.

But the US says Taiwan is a self-ruled and democratic country that has a right to defend itself, and argues Washington has to duty to sell arms to Taipei under the Taiwan Relations Act.

The decision by the Obama Administration to go ahead with a $6.4bn arms sale to Taiwan has certainly infuriated the Chinese government. Although the F-16 fighters - which Taiwan's military wanted - were dropped from the final package, it still includes advanced helicopters, air defense missiles, minesweepers and military communications equipment.

China has called the deal a "gross interference in its internal affairs" and has already suspended military exchanges between the two countries in retaliation. In addition there have been calls in government run mediafor sanctions against US companies involved in the deal.

For its part Washington says that China's increased defense spending means U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are necessary to maintain a military balance. The move is the culmination of a spike in Sino-US tensions since last year's meeting between Presidents Barack Obama and Hu Jintao.

The two clashed over the Copenhagen Climate Negotiations, and more recently over internet freedom, cyber attacks and how to deal with Iran.