CHINA - Reaction to Bush missile plan may be harsh

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Current News : One Thread

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/122/world/China_reaction_to_Bush_missile:.shtml

China reaction to Bush missile plan expected to be harsh

By Joseph Coleman, Associated Press, 5/2/2001 09:00

TOKYO (AP) Chinese state media warned Wednesday of a possible new arms race and several key governments were critical after President Bush's announcement that the United States would build a shield against ballistic missile attacks.

There was no formal government response in China. But the state-run Xinhua News Agency quoted unidentified analysts as saying the decision will ''spark a new arms race and create a proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.''

The most favorable response came from Australia. The government said it would allow the United States to use joint military bases in Australia for the planned missile shield.

Allies Britain and Canada issued statements Tuesday that stopped short of endorsing the plan, while Sweden, Germany and others expressed deep concern, fearing the plan could jeopardize global security.

''The establishment of the missile defense system runs the risk of halting and reversing multilateral progress toward the elimination of nuclear weapons,'' New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff and Disarmament Minister Matt Robson said in a statement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was expected to respond later Wednesday. Russia and China have vehemently opposed plans for a missile shield, which they see as aimed at frustrating their nuclear deterrent. Beijing has also reacted strongly to speculation that the shield could be extended beyond the United States to cover Japan and Taiwan.

''The Chinese will probably try to build up their nuclear strike force, which will not be a stabilizing thing in this part of the world,'' said C.P. Chung, a China expert at Singapore's Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies.

China considers Taiwan a wayward province that should be reunited with the mainland, and opposes any attempt to strengthen the island's defenses.

Moving to calm concern among allies, Bush called South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and Secretary of State Colin Powell talked to Japanese Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka. The administration planned to send a delegation to Asia this month, led by Richard Armitage, the deputy secretary of state.

With the diplomatic climate between China and the United States already tense following a spy plane standoff, many in the region were reluctant to comment Wednesday.

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry declined comment on an ''internal issue'' of the United States. Japan's prime minister also said it would refrain from immediate comment.

Communist North Korea was expected to come out strongly against the plan, perhaps using the issue as leverage in talks with Washington and Seoul, aimed at unifying the divided peninsula.

South Korea made limited comment. In a 15-minute telephone call with Bush, President Kim praised contacts with Asian nations as ''desirable,'' a spokesman for Kim said.

''I hope that through this process, the U.S. will contribute to peace and stability in the world,'' the spokesman, Park Joon-young, quoted Kim as telling Bush.

Australia was the most positive, saying that it shared U.S. concerns over potential missile threats from some governments.

A spokeswoman for Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australia would allow the use of joint military bases such as the Pine Gap facility in central Australia for missile shield communications.

-- Anonymous, May 02, 2001


Moderation questions? read the FAQ