Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=08/23/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CHINA / U-S MISSILE UPDATE (S)

NUMBER=2-279621

BYLINE=JIM RANDLE

DATELINE=BEIJING

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Chinese and American officials have finished a day of talks about the spread of missile technology and the launch of commercial

satellites. V-O-A's Jim Randle reports from Beijing.

TEXT: Chinese officials say they asked the United States to stop blocking the launch of commercial satellites made by American companies on Chinese rockets. China says the U-S side agreed to do that in a deal hammered out last November.

The U-S side has said little about the talks, but was expected to complain that China allegedly sent missile technology to Pakistan in

violation of the same agreement. China and the Chinese government-owned company named in the allegation, both deny the charge.

The allegation surfaced in a newspaper report and was repeated by a delegation of U-S senators who met with China's president a couple of weeks ago.

Official Chinese media have called the weapons proliferation issue one of the most difficult in the sometimes strained relationship between

Washington and Beijing. Chinese newspapers also say the Chinese side will probably raise concerns about U-S weapons sales to Taiwan. Beijing

considers the island to be a renegade province and regards the weapons sales a violation of its sovereignty. (Signed)

NEB/HK/JR/JO