DATE=4/13/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248006
TITLE=CHINA / INDIA TEST (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CHINA SAYS IT REGRETS INDIA'S RECENT TEST OF A BALLISTIC
MISSILE THAT EXPERTS SAY IS CAPABLE OF CARRYING A NUCLEAR
WARHEAD. AS V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS FROM BEIJING, THE
CHINESE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT IS WORRIED THAT THERE WILL BE AN ARMS
RACE IN SOUTH ASIA.
TEXT: WHEN ASKED TO COMMENT ON INDIA'S MISSILE TEST ON SUNDAY,
FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SUN YUXI -- SPEAKING THROUGH AN
INTERPRETER -- USED MILD LANGUAGE TO EXPRESS ITS DISPLEASURE.
// SUN INTERPRETER ACT //
THE CHINESE SIDE HEREBY EXPRESSES REGRET AND CONCERN OVER THIS.
// END ACT //
HE CALLED ON INDIA TO CEASE DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEAR-CAPABLE
MISSILES AND ADDED THAT CHINA'S MAIN CONCERN HAS TO DO WITH THE
BALANCE OF ARMS BETWEEN INDIA AND ITS RIVAL, PAKISTAN.
// SUN INTERPRETER ACT //
WE DO NOT WISH TO SEE A MISSILE RACE IN SOUTH ASIA.
// END ACT //
THE MEDIUM-RANGE MISSILE THAT INDIA TEST-FIRED ON SUNDAY CAN HIT
TARGETS UP TO TWO THOUSAND KILOMETERS AWAY -- GIVING IT THE
CAPABILITY TO REACH PAKISTANI AND CHINESE TERRITORY.
MR. SUN SAID CHINA VIEWS THE IMPROVEMENT OF RELATIONS WITH INDIA
AS VERY IMPORTANT AND DID NOT SAY THAT BEIJING VIEWS THE INDIAN
MISSILE TEST AS A MENACE.
// SUN INTERPRETER ACT //
AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TAKEN NOTE OF THE REMARK BY THE INDIAN
PRIME MINISTER THAT THIS TEST IS NOT DIRECTED AT ANY COUNTRY.
// END ACT //
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO ASIAN GIANTS, CHINA AND INDIA, HAVE
BEEN PLAGUED WITH DIFFICULTIES. FIRST OF ALL, CHINA HAS BEEN
ACCUSED OF SELLING MISSILES TO ITS CLOSE FRIEND, PAKISTAN. LAST
YEAR, INDIAN OFFICIALS SAID CHINA POSES A SERIOUS MILITARY THREAT
TO INDIA. SHORTLY AFTERWARD, INDIA CONDUCTED SEVERAL UNDERGROUND
NUCLEAR TESTS -- WHICH CHINA STRONGLY CONDEMNED. (SIGNED)
NEB/HO/GC/FC
13-Apr-99 9:22 AM EDT (1322 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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