China renews opposition to U.S. missile shield plans

"It is our view that the U.S. side possesses the largest and most sophisticated nuclear weapons arsenal," Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi told a press briefing. The "vigorous development" of the U.S. National Missile Defence (NMD) and the East Asian Theatre Missile Defence (TMD) systems is "detrimental to international disarmament and arms control efforts" and could "disrupt global strategic balance", Sun said.

The U.S. should stick to the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, he said. Sun also criticised the recent U.S. "space war" exercise, which may have simulated a war between the U.S. and China over Taiwan. "China has always insisted on using space for peaceful ends and opposes the arms race in space," Sun said. NMD and TMD, which could include Taiwan, are likely to be high on the agenda if a visit said by U.S. media to be planned next month by Vice-Premier Qian Qichen goes ahead.

"Some people have said that this visit may cover the issue of Taiwan, and the question of Taiwan is the most sensitive issue between China and the U.S.," Sun said. China hopes the U.S. government will adhere to the "one china" policy and "properly handle the question of Taiwan", he said. Sun would not confirm if Qian would definitely visit the U.S., saying only that the two sides were "still in consultation".

In its election manifesto, the new Bush administration said it planned to include Taiwan in TMD. At the annual Munich security conference at the weekend, new U.S. Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld tried to reassure both U.S. allies and "strategic competitors" like China that the missile defence systems threaten no country and is aimed only at those who want to threaten others. Russia and several of America's European allies have also expressed severe doubts over NMD, which they say could unleash another arms race.

(la/dpa)