China denies U.S. reports on missile supply

BEIJING, AUG. 9. China today denied reports that it was supplying missile components to Pakistan, but at the same time urged the United States to lift the export controls on American satellites being launched on Chinese carrier rockets.

Commenting on a report in the U.S. media, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Ms. Zhang Qiyue, said the Government had stated in November last that ``China has no intention to assist any country in any way to develop ballistic missiles which can be used to carry nuclear weapons. China has always fulfilled this commitment in a serious and responsible way,'' Ms. Zhang was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.

``Some U.S. media with ulterior motives spread irresponsible and groundless rumours in attempts to slander China,'' she said.

Ms. Zhang said the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and delivery equipment was a threat to world peace and security, and all countries were obliged to abide by related international legal documents.

``China has reason to urge the U.S. to seriously carry out the policy it announced on November 21 last and to take effective measures to remove artificially imposed obstacles to satellite exports to China, so that the Sino-U.S. cooperation in the field of satellite launching can be normalised as soon as possible,'' she added.

Decries U.S. plan

Meanwhile, the Chinese Defence Minister, Mr. Chi Haotian, has decried U.S. plans to develop and deploy a National Missile Defence (NMD), the State media reported today.

``On the issue of non-proliferation, China strictly observes international agreements and commitments it has made, so the U.S. should not make random criticisms based on misleading information,'' Mr. Chi told a visiting U.S. Congressional delegation led by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Mr. Joseph Biden.

``China keeps its word,'' he was quoted as saying by the China Daily.

Mr. Chi, who is also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, told Mr. Biden that China opposes NMD development, for such a move was detrimental to the trust among nations as well as to world peace and stability.

On Taiwan, Mr. Chi said China's policy was based on ``peaceful reunification'', ``one country, two systems'' and the Chinese President, Mr. Jiang Zemin's eight-point proposal for increased exchanges between the mainland and Taiwan.

- PTI

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Section  : International
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