Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=5-16-01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-276070

TITLE=CHINA MISSILE DEFENSE S & L

BYLINE=JIM RANDLE

DATELINE=BEIJING

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A high level U-S delegation has left China without denting Chinese opposition to the Bush Administration's planned missile defense system

But a senior U-S envoy says talks on the issue were useful, and further discussions are planned. V-O-A's Jim Randle has the story in Beijing.

TEXT: U-S Assistant Secretary of State Jim Kelly came to Beijing with the hope of cooling China's strident opposition to a U-S proposal to build

defenses against ballistic missiles.

After talks with China's top arms control official and top diplomats, Mr. Kelly said the two sides still have "differences of opinion," but called the talks "productive."

He says there will be more discussions of the U-S missile defense proposal, as well as talks on Washington's efforts to limit the spread of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. /// OPT /// Mr. Kelly left Beijing early Wednesday morning without answering questions from reporters, "speaking" only in a brief written

statement handed out by the U-S embassy. /// END OPT ///

Meantime, Chinese state-controlled media described the talks as "frank discussions" a term that is sometimes a diplomatic euphemism for arguing.

Before the talks even ended Tuesday, China's Foreign Ministry repeated its position that the U-S missile defenses will endanger the global strategic balance, spark an arms race, and frustrate arms control efforts.

/// REST OPT FOR LONG ///

One of China's leading experts on strategic issues and missile defenses, Zhu Feng, says the agreement to at least keep talking is about the best that could be expected with the two sides so far apart on this and many other issues.

/// ZHU ACT ///

Sino / U-S relations are so important, on missile defense issues, even though it's a potentially contentious issue, we have to keep talking; we have to stay engaged on such strategic issues.

/// END ACT ///

Professor Zhu, of Peking University, says the missile defense issue is made more difficult by a rising tide of nationalism in China. He says this is creating a political climate where leaders can not afford to appear weak in

dealing with other nations. /// OPT /// Mr. Zhu says the sentiment grows out of anger lingering from the many attacks, invasions, and humiliations China has suffered at the hands of foreign powers over the past century and a half. /// END OPT ///(Signed)

NEB/HK/JR/JO