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19 December 2002 |
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http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZFPCK5U9D.html |
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China last night joined Russia in opposing Washington's deployment of a missile shield defence system announced by US President George W. Bush on Tuesday. In Beijing's first official reaction to the United States announcement, top Chinese envoy Sha Zukang said that the mainland did not support the development and deployment of a missile defence system which undermined the global strategic balance and stability. The comments of Mr Sha, China's ambassador to all the international bodies based in Geneva, were reported by the official China News Service. Analysts in Beijing say that China opposes the plan in principle because any US invincibility could upset the regional balance of power, especially in the mainland's cross-strait relations with Taiwan. In Moscow, Russia yesterday warned of the destabilisation of international security networks and a new arms race following the US decision. The Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing concern that the development of such a system would divert resources from other real threats, above all the fight being waged against international terrorism. Moscow consistently has said the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty of 1972 - which expired in June after the US decided to opt out - should remain in force. Under the US plan, weapons to be deployed include six ground-based interceptors in Alaska by the end of 2004, with 10 more added by the end of 2005. Four interceptors would be based in California - for an overall total of 20 - by 2006.
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