China's Stance on NMD Will Not Change, FM SpokesmanChina's opposition to the U.S. NMD (national missile defense) program is consistent and will not change, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sun Yuxi said here Tuesday.Sun made the remark when asked to comment on the discussion between James Kelly, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and his Chinese counterpart. Sun said that the U.S. plan to develop NMD is a matter that " harms others without benefiting the United States itself," and if it continues with the program, it will "lift a stone only to drop it on its own toes." He warned that the deployment of NMD will break the global strategic balance and stability, undermine the mutual trust and cooperation between big nations, hinder the process of international disarmament and the anti-proliferation efforts, and trigger a new round of arms race. China hopes to urge the United States to give up its NMD program through diplomatic consultations, he said. The spokesman said that every country has the right to take necessary measures to enhance its national security, but not at the expense of the security of other countries. The United States should follow the advice of the international community and consult with other countries on the issue of NMD. We hope the United States acts with great care and continues to adhere to the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty and other treaties on disarmament and arms control, he said. Sun said that in a sense China objects more to the TMD (theater missle defense), because such a program aims to enhance military alliance, exceeds the needs of a justifiable defense, poses a threat to surrounding countries, and undermines the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific Region in particular. And the intention of including Taiwan in TMD constitutes direct interference in China's internal affairs, he added. |
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