China softens language over US missile defense

Using unusually mild language, China has called on the US to act cautiously with regards to its missile defense plans.

Comments by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao (朱邦造), published late on Friday, appeared to be a departure from previous assertions of outright opposition to US missile defense plans.

"China hopes that the US will act cautiously regarding the MDS [missile defense system] issue," the state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Zhu as saying.

Zhu said US plans to develop its missile defense system were bound to damage the international strategic balance and stability and harm the common security of all countries, according to Xinhua.

The missile system is one of a string of issues still clouding steadily improving China-US relations ahead of a summit in China between President Jiang Zemin (江澤民) and US President George W. Bush next month.

Zhu also noted contradictions in media reports and official US government comments last week, according to Xinhua.

Last Sunday, the New York Times reported that the Bush administration intended to tell Chinese leaders it had no objection to China's plans to build up its nuclear missile arsenal in a bid to overcome Chinese opposition to US missile defense plans.

A Whitehouse spokesman denied the report on the same day.

In a request for comments on the issue, Zhu said China had always called for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons and never participated in the nuclear arms race, according to Xinhua.

Beijing had always exerted the utmost restraint in developing nuclear weapons which were aimed at self-defense, he was quoted as saying.

In related news, the Senate Armed Services Committee moved on Friday to slice US$1.3 billion from spending on US missile defense programs, setting up a showdown this fall over funding for Bush's proposed missile defense plans.

In a closed-door session, the panel approved on a party-line 13-12 vote a US$344 billion fiscal 2002 defense authorization bill that cuts Bush's request for missile defense spending, lawmakers said.

A House of Representatives panel rejected Democratic efforts to make a nearly US$1 billion cut last month, and the Pentagon has vowed to vigorously oppose any reduction in funds for missile defense testing and development.

The bill includes a provision authored by committee Chairman Carl Levin that would require Congress to approve any missile defense tests that violate a nuclear deterrence pact with Moscow.

Under the bill, Bush would have to seek congressional approval before spending funds on missile defense tests that violate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty.