State Department Noon Briefing
U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2000
Briefer: RICHARD BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN
QUESTION: Sorry. If I could follow-up back on a similar topic. I guess
yesterday a number of Republicans came out and criticized the arms
deal that was signed with China that you announced yesterday. How do
you respond to when they say that China has made commitments in the
past not to sell missiles and has broken them? I mean, what is
different this time, if you could just sort of elaborate on that?
MR. BOUCHER: I do not want to get into a political debate on this, but
I think the facts can speak for themselves; that the Chinese
Government in this situation has addressed our concerns, has said it
is going to implement a set of policies, including licensing
requirements, that are quite specific and quite detailed.
I think it is quite clear in this situation what the Chinese have
promised to do. We have stressed all along - and I think I mentioned
yesterday that the Secretary and the President in their meetings with
the Chinese in Brunei stressed - the importance of full and complete
implementation, and that is what we will expect to see.
We have had agreements on this subject with the Chinese in the past,
and I am trying to look for the exact citation. But I think on the
specifics that they agreed to in the past, they have indeed
implemented those things.
What we have done here is have the Chinese announce a very, call it a
very comprehensive set of controls that will deal with the problems in
a very comprehensive way, not just part of the exports or part of the
technology, but any assistance, anything that can assist any country
in any way, and that is a much more comprehensive commitment, as well
as a set of detailed provisions to carry it out. And we will obviously
watch closely and work with them to ensure the complete
implementation, which is what the Secretary and the President have
stressed.
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