China expressed its "concern" yesterday about a plan mulled by the
United States and Japan for a joint missile defence shield.
It
said such a move should not threaten the security interests of
other countries in the region.
Foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a regular news
briefing in Beijing: "Like many countries in the region, we are
worried that the cooperation on a missile defence system between
the United States and Japan may have negative effects on regional
stability and security."
Both the United States and Japan have said this week that they will
continue to research a missile defence system.
US
Secretary of State Colin Powell told the US-Japan Two-Plus-Two
Ministerial Meeting on Monday that both sides had had a "productive
discussion" in which they agreed that missile defence is an
increasingly viable and attractive option, given the proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.
Liu said yesterday that the development of the missile defence
system in the Asia-Pacific should not infringe on the security
interests of other countries.
"We hope that the sides concerned will behave cautiously," said
Liu.
He
also said that China hoped that a US decision to deploy a limited
missile defence shield by 2004 would not upset global security.
"We always hold that only through the good co-operation of the
international community can we effectively solve the threat posed
by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," Liu said.
US
President George W. Bush on Tuesday ordered the military to start
rolling out a national missile defence system beginning with 10
interceptor rockets at a base in Alaska by 2004, a move that was
bound to irk long-time critics of such a shield.
Liu said: "The missile defence system should not undermine the
strategic stability of the world. Neither should it undermine
global and regional security."
Liu responded to reports that more US troops are expected to be
deployed in the Persian Gulf next month by saying that China is
ready to maintain close consultations and co-operation with other
countries to push action on the Iraq issue in a "good
direction."
He
said the Iraq issue should be settled within the framework of the
United Nations using peaceful political means.
Liu said that the accuracy and authenticity of Iraq's report on
weapons of mass destruction should be determined by the United
Nations inspection team and finally decided by the UN Security
Council.
Asked whether China had sent delegates to a meeting held in London
by Iraqi opposition parties, Liu said no Chinese delegates had been
there. A country's internal affairs should be decided by its own
people, he said.
(China Daily December 20, 2002)