China's disarmament ambassador yesterday reiterated China's firm opposition to the US development of its National Missile Defence (NMD) system, saying that China will not allow its national security to be harmed.

"(We oppose the US NMD programme) for two basic reasons,'' said Sha Zukang, director-general of the Department of Arms Control and Disarmament under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at a briefing. "Firstly, we don't believe that NMD is in the interests of international peace and security; secondly, it will compromise China's security.''

Sha's remarks come now that the Bush administration is repeatedly expressing its determination to develop the NMD system, something it has done since its inauguration in January.

However, Sha stressed that China "does not want to see a confrontation between China and the United States over the NMD issue nor an arms race between the two countries,'' hoping that "existing mutual deterrence between the two countries can be preserved.''

"China will not allow its legitimate means of self-defence to be weakened or even taken away by anyone in any way,'' Sha added.

Sha expressed China's willingness to further clarify its position on and concern about the NMD issue with the US side through candid dialogues.

An opportunity for such dialogues might be the upcoming visit by Vice-Premier Qian Qichen to Washington. The NMD programme is among issues that are expected to come up during this visit by the highest-level Chinese delegation to visit the United States since the Bush administration was sworn in.

The US zeal for the NMD system has aroused wide concern not only in China and Russia, but also with US allies in Europe.

Sha said that the US NMD programme will jeopardize the global strategic balance and stability and undermine the trust and co-operation among major powers.

He added that the programme will hamper the international arms control and disarmament process and even trigger new arms races, particularly in outer space and the extension of arms race from offensive weapons to defensive weapons.

Sha attacked the US claim that its new defence shield was to counter the increasing threat posed by missile proliferation.

"The United States has over-exaggerated the missile threats from the so-called `countries of concern','' said Sha. "NMD is not the solution to the problem of missile proliferation. Instead, it will undermine the very foundation of the international non-proliferation regime and even stimulate further proliferation of missiles.''

Sha also warned that the NMD programme will increase the weight of the military factor in international relations in detriment to international peace and security, and it will disrupt the peace and security of the Asia-Pacific region as well.

The US side has claimed that the development of the NMD system is aimed at safeguarding its national security. However, it has so far failed in convincing Beijing that the system will not harm China.

Sha said that China's opposition to the NMD programme should not be linked with the nation's ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), adding that the US programme "is not good for the effective implementation of the CTBT.''

As one of the five nuclear powers in the world, China has all along been a strong supporter of the treaty, which is now being read by the National People's Congress and awaiting ratification. China is the only one of the five nuclear powers that has pledged it will not be the first to use nuclear weapons. It has also promised that it will never use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapons states or nuclear-weapons-free zones.

Sha also refuted the rumour that China is modernizing its nuclear weapons, saying that quality improvement is only possible with nuclear test explosions, which are prohibited by the CTBT.

According to Sha, the elimination and updating of nuclear weapons in China is aimed at guaranteeing their security and reliability and preventing unexpected launchings and accidents.

Sha yesterday also urged the United States to honour its commitments made in the August 17 Communique concerning weapon sales to Taiwan.

"We hope the new administration will heed our request (that the United States should honour its commitments),'' said Sha.

Sha's words echoed Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao's comments made on Tuesday. Zhu warned that US sales of advanced weapons and equipment, including the AEGIS missile destroyer and the Pac-3 anti-missile system, would aggravate tensions across the Taiwan Straits and jeopardize Sino-US relations.

(China Daily 03/15/2001)