DoD News Briefing
Thursday, January 14, 1999
Presenter: Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen
Press Conference at the U.S. Embassy, Tokyo, Japan
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Q: Sir, the Chinese are threatening to enlarge their own missile program in response to the moves that Japan and the United States have made to jointly develop a Theater Missile Defense. I wondered if you could comment on the Chinese assessment of Washington as reckless as going down this path? And comment on the threats that China is making to enlarge its own programs.A: With respect to the Chinese statements, I am not really familiar with the full statement they have issued about the United States or Japan being reckless in seeking to develop a Theater Missile Defense system. As far as the Chinese expanding their ballistic missile capability, it's become very clear that they have developed a long-range capability and that we are well aware of it, as far as their ballistic missiles are concerned, and so I don't understand how this Theater Missile Defense system that would protect the people of Japan, as well as American troops who are here in the population, would in any way pose a threat to China.
It seems to me that the Japanese people and the American people have an obligation to try to provide protection for their troops as they're deployed and for the population in the region against what is clearly an increasing threat from missile proliferation. That should in no way pose a threat to the Chinese, and so I can't accept their characterization as this being reckless or irresponsible. I think it's a very responsible course of action for both of our governments to pursue.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jan1999/t01141999_t0114jpn.html
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