Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=3-15-01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-273739

TITLE=CHINA / US MISSILES (L)

BYLINE=JIM RANDLE

DATELINE=BEIJING

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The commander of U-S forces in the Pacific says China's apparent new willingness to talk about missile defenses is a good sign for relations between Beijing and Washington. China strongly objects to U-S missile defense systems, particularly those that might be sold to Taiwan. V-O-A's Jim Randle reports from Beijing.

TEXT: After meetings in China with top officials of the People's Liberation Army, Admiral Dennis Blair says Chinese officials are showing a slightly greater willingness to discuss the complex details of various proposed U-S missile defense systems.

That is a change from their previous total rejection of missile defense systems - called N-M-D and T-M-D.

/// BLAIR ACT ///

When I discuss these systems with Chinese officials in past visits, I did not get much of a sense that they were drawing distinctions.

Anything that had an 'M-D' in it was bad and anything that did not was good, it was a fairly simplistic notion. So I welcome a deeper

understanding.

/// END ACT ///

The first thaw in chilly relations on the topic came Wednesday in a briefing by China's top arms control official, who told reporters that some medium-size missile defenses might be justified under some circumstances.

But China still furiously objects to the possible sale of U-S weapons, like PAC-three missiles and Aegis-class warships, that could form the basis of a missile-defense system for the island of Taiwan.

Admiral Blair says Washington is considering selling those advanced weapons because China now aims a fleet of at least 300 short-range ballistic missiles at key facilities on Taiwan, and is adding 50-missiles a year to the arsenal targeting Taiwan.

/// BLAIR ACT ///

There will be a point at which that missile build up threatens the sufficient defense of Taiwan, which it is the United States' policy to maintain. So, I think its important that the Chinese make the connection between what they deploy on their side of the strait and the types of technologies that the United States might make available to Taiwan.

/// END ACT ///

China considers the island a rebel province and has threatened to attack if it formally declares independence, or drags its feet on political reunification. In the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, Washington promised to sell Taiwan enough weapons to defend itself. The United States is due to decide in April on Taiwan's latest arms request. (SIGNED)

NEB/HK/JR/JO/RAE