U.S. envoys begin hard sell of missile shield

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By staff and wire reports

TOKYO, Japan -- U.S. envoys have embarked a tour of Asia to brief regional allies and other key nations, including China and India, on its plans to build a controversial global missile defense system.

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Jim Kelly are in Tokyo meeting a number of high-ranking officials, including Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda.

Their mission is to sell the concept of a global missile shield as outlined by U.S. President George W. Bush in a speech last week. The system, Bush said, would be operated and maintained with the assistance of U.S. allies around the world.

Also Japan stops short of support U.S. missile defense plans

"The purpose of the visit is first to brief allies and then explain to other key nations, such as India and China, the details of the (missile shield) policy," said a spokesman for the U.S. embassy in Tokyo.

"It's not by any means a completed project. It's not something that we're announcing to the allies, it's very much a consultation with other countries and an explanation of views."

Despite rocky relations between Washington and Beijing, the spokesman said it was important to brief Chinese officials and gauge their interest in the project.

Concerns, warnings

China, Russia and North Korea have all raised concerns about the missile shield, with Beijing warning the system might spark a fresh arms race with the U.S.

The visit by Armitage and Kelly, as well as other key diplomats, will cover Japan, South Korea, China, India, Singapore and Australia.

The United States is seeking support for its controversial missile shield, which drew praise from some nations and criticism from others on Wednesday.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer on Tuesday gave his government's strongest endorsement yet of the missile defence shield, boasting that opponents were now coming around to Australia's viewpoint.

Seoul has remained neutral on the idea, and Bush is said to have called South Korean president Kim Dae-jung for about 15 minutes last week after making public his push for the missile shield.

During the call, Bush reportedly confirmed he would visit South Korea in October and discussed the U.S. plan for a missile shield with Kim, said South Korean presidential spokesman Park Joon-young.

Kim said he hoped U.S. efforts to negotiate with other countries, including its allies on the National Missile Defense (NMD) would contribute to international peace and stability.

Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty

Bush has also called for replacing the 30-year-old Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty with Russia to allow the deployment of the missile defense system, which is strongly opposed by Moscow and Beijing, and a reduction of the U.S. nuclear weapon stockpile.

Armitage and Kelly will remain in Tokyo until Wednesday morning, then travel to Seoul for meetings until Thursday.

Kelly will then spend two days in Australia and make a brief visit to Singapore, then return to Washington. Armitage will visit India on May 11 before heading home.

The United States says it needs a missile shield because of a growing threat from rogue states such as North Korea.

Australia has given important backing to the US plans at a time when most allies have expressed concerns that it could destabilise the world's strategic balance.

Downer, in Washington for two days of meetings with top cabinet members and business leaders, said he had discussed the missile shield with U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.

Australia's defence concerns

He said he had emphasised Australia's concerns about the proliferation of missiles.

"A missile defence system is not going to kill anyone, missiles will. That's why we're very understanding of their (America's) position," Downer said.

But Australia's Federal Opposition leader, Kim Beazley, says he believes any role Australia would have in the United States' plans for a national missile defence system would be minimal.

Beazley says the plans for the system are not concrete and have only been described in terms of general principles.

He says Labor refused to support the original Star Wars missile defence system.

Beazley says if the United States proceeds with the plan, it will set aside an important treaty and could generate an arms build up in the region, which would not be comfortable for Australia.

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Russia calls for missile talks
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U.S. Dept. of Defense

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