ACCESSION NUMBER:363042
FILE ID:POL209
DATE:10/04/94
TITLE:U.S., CHINA SIGN AGREEMENT ON MISSILE EXPORTS (10/04/94)
TEXT:*94100409.POL
U.S., CHINA SIGN AGREEMENT ON MISSILE EXPORTS
(U.S. to waive sanctions imposed in 1993) (600)
By Edmund F. Scherr
USIA Diplomatic Correspondent
Washington -- The United States and China signed an agreement October 4 that
Secretary of State Christopher says establishes a "global and verifiable"
ban on Chinese export of all missiles and their components that fall within
the parameters of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
Characterizing the Chinese commitment under it as "not ambiguous,"
Christopher said the agreement is "a very important step forward."
The ban covers ground-to-ground missiles "inherently capable" of reaching a
range of at least 300 kilometers and with a payload of at least 500
kilograms.
Under the agreement, Christopher explained, China now accepts the MTCR
definition of a missile's "inherent capability." That means that any
missile that has the inherent capability to be adapted to meet the MTCR
threshold through modification is "also within the control of the regime,"
he said.
China and the United States also agreed to work together to promote the
earliest possible achievement of an international and effectively
verifiable convention banning the production of fissile material for
nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices.
Christopher and Chinese Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen signed
the agreement during a ceremony at the State Department.
The secretary said the agreement is another step in the direction of
"stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction," which he called "a
1trategic priority for President Clinton's administration."
The United States and China "have reaffirmed our respective commitments to
the MTCR guidelines and parameters," the secretary said, noting that the
two countries have agreed to hold further talks on MTCR including
discussions on China's "possible MTCR membership in the near future."
In his remarks after the signing, Christopher said the United States and
China have agreed to a "step-by-step approach to resolve their differences
on the export of missiles under the MTCR."
As a first step, the agreement said, the United States will take the
measures necessary to lift U.S. sanctions against China imposed in August
1993. Those sanctions against entities in China and Pakistan were imposed
for the export of MTCR annex items -- M-11 missile technology and
components -- from China to Pakistan.
"Once the sanctions have been lifted, China has agreed not to export
ground-to-ground missiles covered by the MTCR agreement," the secretary
said.
U.S. officials explained that the U.S.-Chinese agreement does not lift the
two-year sanctions against Pakistan imposed in 1993.
"Since the imposition of those sanctions, we also have offered to Pakistan
the opportunity to work with us to achieve key non-proliferation goals
which could lead to a waiver of the sanctions," the department said in a
statement.
The U.S.-Chinese agreement on fissile material, the secretary said, "will
enable us to advance our shared goal of stopping the production of nuclear
weapons material in states that are on the threshold of nuclear weapons
development.
"And it also strengthens our larger shared commitment to halt the
proliferation of nuclear weapons."
The Chinese foreign minister said the agreement on missiles and fissile
material "will contribute to the development of Sino-American relations.
It will also play a positive role in promoting the global non-proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction and...stopping...the development of fissile
material."
Therefore the agreement "contributes to world peace and stability," Qian
emphasized.
The Washington talks with China this week on non-proliferation and human
rights are a "reflection of a good degree of progress in our relationship,"
Christopher said.
NNNN
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