DATE=3/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246492
TITLE=CHINA / RUSSIA / T-M-D (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CHINA CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS HELD TALKS WITH RUSSIA ON A
U-S PLAN FOR A MISSILE UMBRELLA THAT WOULD PROTECT ITS TROOPS
AND ALLIES IN ASIA. VOA'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS, BEIJING HAS
VOCIFEROUSLY OPPOSED THE PROPOSED MISSILE SYSTEM -- WHICH IS
BEING STUDIED BY THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN.
TEXT: CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ZHU BANGZAO, SPEAKING
THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, SAID CHINA AND RUSSIA ARE AMONG THE
COUNTRIES IN THE REGION CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSED U-S THEATER
MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM, OR T-M-D.
// ZHU INTERPRETER ACT //
RUSSIA IS OPPOSED TO T-M-D AND WE ALSO EXPRESSED OUR STRONG
OPPOSITION TO THIS, SO THE TWO COUNTRIES SHARE A POSITION ON THIS
ISSUE.
// END ACT //
THE CHINESE SPOKESMAN SAID MANY COUNTRIES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
T-M-D BECAUSE IT AFFECTS BOTH GLOBAL AND REGIONAL SECURITY.
THEREFORE, HE SAID, MOSCOW AND BEIJING WILL CONTINUE TO DISCUSS
THE MATTER.
// ZHU INTERPRETER ACT //
THE TWO SIDES WILL MAINTAIN CONSULTATION ON THIS ISSUE.
// END ACT //
MR. ZHU DECLINED TO SAY WHETHER CHINA AND RUSSIA PLAN TO TAKE ANY
COUNTER MEASURES, SAYING THE QUESTION OF JOINT ACTION IS ONE THAT
HE CANNOT ANSWER NOW.
WASHINGTON SAYS THE JOINT U-S-JAPAN SECURITY UMBRELLA IS BEING
CONSIDERED BECAUSE OF A PERCEIVED MISSILE THREAT FROM NORTH
KOREA.
CHINA HAS VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED SUGGESTIONS THAT TAIWAN SHOULD BE
INCLUDED UNDER THE UMBRELLA, BECAUSE BEIJING REGARDS THE ISLAND
AS A RENEGADE PROVINCE.
A RECENTLY PUBLISHED PENTAGON REPORT SAYS CHINA IS BUILDING A
MAJOR FORCE OF BALLISTIC AND CRUISE MISSILES NEAR ITS TAIWAN
STRAIT COAST AND COULD PRESENT AN OVERWHELMING MILITARY THREAT TO
TAIWAN IN FIVE YEARS. (SIGNED)
NEB/HO/FC/KL
11-Mar-99 7:05 AM EST (1205 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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