DATE=7/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-COHEN (L)
NUMBER=2-264287
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: US Defense Secretary William Cohen has arrived
in Beijing on a five-day visit aimed at shoring up
Sino-US military ties. But, as VOA correspondent
Roger Wilkison reports, China has already put Mr.
Cohen on notice that it is bitterly opposed to US
plans for anti-missile defense systems.
TEXT: Minutes after Secretary Cohen stepped off his
plane, the Chinese Foreign Ministry weighed in with
harsh criticism of Washington's proposed National
Missile Defense System, or NMD.
US diplomats say Mr. Cohen will try to reassure
Beijing that NMD is not aimed at neutralizing China's
limited intercontinental ballistic missile arsenal.
But Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi - speaking
through an interpreter - called the US project
disruptive and obstructive and warned it could trigger
a new arms race.
/// INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///
No matter what the US side says, we are firmly opposed
to the development of NMD by the United States.We will
decide our own policies on disarmament in accordance
with the development of the situation in this field.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
Washington says NMD is needed to protect vulnerable
parts of the United States from missile attacks by
such countries as North Korea. China maintains that
North Korea is not a threat to the United States,
especially after its efforts at rapproachment with
South Korea and other countries. China is also
strongly opposed to a planned Theater Missile Defense
System in East Asia it fears would shelter Taiwan and
thwart Beijing's efforts at reunification with the
island.
En route to China, Mr. Cohen said the failure of a
test of the NMD system last Saturday does not
automatically mean that the United States will abandon
its goal of having it ready for use by the year 2005.
But Mr. Sun urged Washington to drop NMD altogether.
/// INTERPRETER ACTUALITY TWO///
The United States is not just faced with technical
barriers. It's also faced with universal opposition
from the international community. We urge the US side
to give up as soon as possible this plan that does not
serve its own interests but, on the other hand,
undermines the interests of others.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
Mr. Cohen is the second US cabinet-level official to
visit China in three weeks. Despite differences
between the two countries on arms control issues,
China and the United States are returning to more
stable ties after relations went into a tailspin last
year following NATO's bombing of the Chinese embassy
in Yugoslavia. (signed)
NEB/HK/RW/JO
11-Jul-2000 05:09 AM EDT (11-Jul-2000 0909 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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