China warns U.S. over missile plans

Reductions in the U.S. nuclear missile arsenal are part of the NMD plans

In this story: Little common ground Taiwan central to China's concern RELATED STORIES, SITES

By Rebecca MacKinnon
Beijing Bureau Chief

BEIJING (CNN) -- China is warning the United States that its plans to build a missile defense shield would be "self-defeating" and would trigger a new arms race that would upset the global balance.

The warning from China's Foreign Ministry came as a senior U.S. diplomat met with Chinese officials to try to persuade them that the shield would not be as threatening as Beijing fears.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly found the Bush administration's proposed National Missile Defense a tough sell in meetings with Chinese officials Tuesday.

AUDIO CNN Beijing Bureau Chief Rebecca MacKinnon says it's likely to be a hard sell for Kelly. 369KB/35secs AIFF or WAV sound    VIDEO CNN's Patricia Kelly has more on the U. S. missile defense system (May 9) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)    RESOURCES Flash animation: Missile Defense (requires Macromedia Shockwave) Q&A: National Missile Defense

Kelly put a positive spin on the situation as he headed into the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

"China clearly shares with us an interest in promoting peace and stability in East Asia and the world. And curbing the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction is a key element in the maintenance of peace and security," Kelly said.

But before his talks were even over, China's Foreign Ministry said it remained unconvinced.

"In our view this disrupts the global strategic balance and stability. It is our view that this plan does not help the U.S. side and also harms the interests of other countries," said Sun Yuxi, Foreign Ministry spokesman.

"When you invent a new spear, of course you will invent a new shield," Sun was quoted as saying.

"When you invent a new shield, you will invent new types of spears. It always goes on like that. Therefore all new plans like this will not bring any self-benefit.

"It's just like lifting a stone and dropping it on one's own feet," Sun said.

The spokesman indicated China would respond if Washington deploys the system, but he didn't say how.

The central government has previously said it could beef up its small nuclear arsenal or make its missiles more accurate to overcome U.S. defenses, Associated Press reported.

The United States has said it needs the missile defense system to protect itself from "rogue" nations such as North Korea.

Kelly says there are four major parts to the defense proposal, which include non-proliferation, counter proliferation, missile defense and unilateral reductions in the United State's strategic forces.

Kelly said earlier that news reports from China "suggest that they really don't understand" the NMD plan.

He said he hopes he can begin a constructive dialogue with Chinese authorities not only on the proposal but also on curbing weapons of mass destruction.

But Sun said his government didn't think the shield would prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

"We recognize that countries have the right to take necessary measures to enhance their own security. But it's our view that this enhanced security should not be built at the cost of other countries' security," Sun said.

"We cannot pursue security in a unilateral way through the development of armaments," he said.

Kelly described his meetings as "excellent" as he returned to the US embassy after talks with China's top arms control official Sha Zukang, as well as vice foreign ministers Wang Yi and Li Zhaoxing.

However he declined to say if he had achieved any concrete results.

"The two sides held frank consultations on the missile-defense issue, and expressed willingness to continue consultations in this regard," the official Xinhua news agency said.

On other fronts in U.S.-China relations, Sun acknowledged that diplomatic communications continue over Washington's desire to have its Navy EP-3 surveillance plane returned.

"We hope that the U.S. side will take a constructive and pragmatic attitude so as to enable a resolution to be found at an early date together with the Chinese side, because this is in the interests of both sides," said Sun.

Pentagon sources have said a U.S. civilian assessment team has estimated it would take a 12-member team at least 10 working days to repair the plane, assuming China would allow the United States to fly in the needed replacement parts and equipment.

The plane has been on China's Hainan Island since an April 1 collision over the South China Sea that destroyed a Chinese jet fighter and killed the Chinese pilot.

The pilot of the crippled U.S. plane made an emergency landing on the island.

The 24 crew members were detained there for 11 days before China released them.

Although Kelly says it is "unfortunate" the incident took place, he said he was not visiting China to discuss the collision, rather to focus on the NMD plan.

Little common ground

U.S.-China analysts say it is unlikely that Beijing and Washington will gain any common ground in discussions on the plan and instead see the visit as healthy in strengthening ties between the two nations.

"I think in the future, both countries on this issue have a long way to go. I think it is very difficult for them to get any consensus at this time," Professor Wu Guoguang from the Chinese University of Hong Kong told CNN.

"The importance of this trip is Washington resuming dialogue with Beijing and it shows that Beijing is also keen to resume high ranking dialogue with Washington," he said.

Wu added that China would be delighted with Washington consulting Beijing to seek international support and approval for the anti-missile plan.

China is among several nations, including Russia, that have voiced their disapproval to the NMD proposal.

Taiwan central to China's concern

China argues the system is offensive rather than defensive because it eliminates any inter-continental threat China can pose to the United States.

Kelly in Beijing

Also central to China's concerns is the proposal to include Taiwan in the defense shield. Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province.

Analysts say China's capacity to retaliate if the United States is involved in any conflict involving Taiwan will be destroyed, leaving the United States free to intervene in any China-Taiwan confrontation.

"I expect China's direct goal will be to exclude Taiwan from the plan," said Wu. "If they can do that, it would be valued as a big success but I personally don't think they will be able to do that.

"I think that Washington doesn't care what type of response it gets from Beijing about NMD as China has no powerful means against it."

Wu said it was likely that China will delay any official response to the missile defense, preferring to wait for responses from Europe and other Asian countries.

The next stop on Kelly's agenda is Vietnam where he is expected on Wednesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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U.S. Defense department
Chinese government
Chinese government

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