DATE=7/6/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-US-ARMS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264126
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: China and the United States are scheduled to
resume talks on arms control and non-proliferation
Friday more than a year after Beijing suspended them
after NATO's bombing of its embassy in Yugoslavia. As
VOA correspondent Roger Wilkison reports, though both
sides are embroiled in disputes over disarmament
matters, the two-day talks mark a near complete return
to normal relations between the two countries.
TEXT: Neither side is saying officially what will be
on the agenda of the talks, but each has its own list
of priorities for discussion.
Diplomats say privately that the U-S delegation -- led
by President Clinton's top advisor on arms control,
John Holum - will want to discuss allegations of
continuing Chinese help for Pakistan's missile
programs.
The Chinese have a longer laundry list. They are
opposed to U-S plans for national and regional missile
defense systems, U-S arms sales to Taiwan and U-S
attempts to thwart Israel's planned sale of an
airborne radar system to Beijing.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi -speaking
to reporters Thursday through an interpreter- says
Washington's plan to develop a U-S-wide defense
against ballistic missiles will trigger a renewed arms
race.
/// INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///
We believe it is against the trend of the times and is
not conducive to the international disarmament and
arms control effort. And it will have a negative
impact on the global and regional strategic balance
and stability.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
China has joined Russia in opposing the national
missile defense system and has said it may have to add
to its own arsenal if the U-S project goes ahead. But
China's main concern is a so-called theater missile
defense, or TMD, which Washington has proposed for its
allies and troops in Asia. China fears it will be
used to shelter Taiwan and thwart China's
reunification with the island.
/// INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///
If any country would like to include Taiwan in the TMD
system, that will constitute a gross violation of
China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and will
surely meet with strong opposition of the Chinese
side.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
Chinese spokesman Sun earlier this week denied that
China is selling Pakistan missile technology and
labeled as groundless a report in the New York Times
quoting U-S intelligence agencies as saying China
continues to provide missile components and technical
aid to Islamabad.
Though Washington and Beijing are not likely to see
eye-to-eye on any of these arms control and non-
proliferation issues, the resumption of a formal
dialogue on the subject is another step toward normal
ties after the Belgrade embassy bombing.
A similar dialogue on human rights remains suspended
because China sees open U-S criticism of its human
rights record as interference in its own affairs. And
-in a sign that fully normal relations are not in the
cards just yet-- Mr. Sun says Beijing is still waiting
for the United States to give it a satisfactory
explanation of the embassy bombing. Washington -which
has provided Beijing compensation for the victims and
for property damage- says it has already done so.
(signed)
NEB/HK/RW/GC/PLM
06-Jul-2000 05:58 AM EDT (06-Jul-2000 0958 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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