Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=1-10-02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-285062

TITLE=CHINA MISSILES - L ONLY

BYLINE=JIM RANDLE

DATELINE=BEIJING

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Beijing says a new U-S intelligence report outlining a growing missile threat from China is basically "speculation." The report says that within the next 15 years, China will have five times the number of nuclear missiles capable of reaching the United States. V-O-A's Jim Randle reports from Beijing.

TEXT: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi

would not comment on the accuracy of the U-S report, or comment on what it says about the state of relations between Washington and Beijing.

But he did make it clear that Beijing uses its modest missile force to make certain that China does not get pushed around by other large, powerful, nuclear-armed nations.

/// SUN ACT IN CHINESE, FADE UNDER ///

Mr. Sun called the U-S report speculation and says China "will stand up in its defense in accordance with its own needs."

The U-S Central Intelligence Agency issued the report Wednesday claiming that China will increase its ballistic missile force by nearly five fold by the year 2015.

U-S intelligence estimates say that China is also well along in the process of changing from old, liquid-fueled missiles launched from fixed locations, to solid fueled missiles that can be quickly moved and hidden in time of crisis.

The report makes it clear that even the new larger force will field a fraction of the firepower deployed by the United States or Russia, which each have thousands of warheads and many missiles.

/// OPT /// The report also says North Korea is continuing to develop ballistic missiles and has a multiple stage rocket that could reach parts of the United States. Iran is mentioned as a potential threat. /// END OPT ///

The report bolsters Washington's case for deploying a controversial new U-S defense system to counter long-range missile threats. China and Russia have both strongly opposed such a move saying it would spark a new international arms race. (Signed)

NEB/HK/JR/JO