DATE=8/16/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA/ US DEFENSE - LONG
NUMBER=2-265535
BYLINE=KIRK TROY
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Chinese military experts have warned that US
missile defense plans could spark a new global arms
race and sour Sino US relations. China's state-run
media again blasted the United States for considering
a missile defense shield that could be deployed in
Asia. Kirk Troy reports from
Beijing.
TEXT: China's flagship English newspaper, the China
Daily Tuesday, has published articles quoting high-
ranking military officers, who warn US missile defense
could undermine regional and global stability.
One article strongly criticized the US Theater Missile
Defense, or T-M-D, which many US lawmakers want to
deploy around their Asian allies - including Japan,
Taiwan and South Korea. China's main concern is
Taiwan, considered a renegade province by the
mainland.
The article argued that T-M-D would strengthen US-
Taiwan military ties - a violation of Chinese
sovereignty.
Song Xuefeng, a researcher at the Academy of Military
Science, was quoted as saying the new system means the
United States could pitch a part of China against
China.
The second China Daily article focused on US plans for
a national missile defense shield which Washington
says is needed to protect against any future missile
threat that may reach its borders.
The Chinese military experts say the plan principally
targets Russia and China and risks shattering non-
proliferation efforts in the Asia-Pacific region.
All of this comes a week after US government
intelligence officials gave a similar assessment. US
analysts suggest that the US missile defense shield
could renew a global arms race. But other US defense
officials argue the US must consider its own security
needs first because China's nuclear and missile
programs will proceed whether the US upgrades its
defense systems or not.
The US missile defense system is still in its testing
stage and President Clinton has yet to make a decision
to deploy it.
NEB/HK/KT/JO
16-Aug-2000 08:57 AM EDT (16-Aug-2000 1257 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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