Beijing cool on US missile brief

(CNN) -- Beijing has given a cool response to Washington's suggestion that it will brief the Chinese leadership on the development of America's missile defense system.

However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has announced that Beijing and Washington will hold talks in Guam on maritime safety for military operations.

The White House said on Tuesday it will brief China about its missile defense program in talks later this month.

"Our consultation with China will make clear that the U.S. missile defense program does not threaten China but seeks to counter limited missile threats from rogue states and the danger of accidental or unauthorized launches," the White House said.

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It is understood that Washington hopes if these talks are successful, the missile defense issue will not dampen the October summit between presidents George W. Bush and Jiang Zemin.

The reaction from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, however, has been cool. Spokesman Zhu Bangzao said Beijing had not been formally notified about the special briefings.

Stern opposition

Privately, foreign policy experts in Beijing said the leadership would, in conjunction with Moscow and Pyongyang, continue to express stern opposition to the missile program.

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They said such opposition would remain even if, as the New York Times reported last weekend, the White House would publicly drop its opposition to Beijing's buildup of offensive nuclear weapons.

Earlier this week, the White House denied the Times report and said it would continue to oppose a nuclear buildup by the Chinese, including the testing of nuclear weapons.

It is understood Jiang will maintain his negative stance on missile defense during his talks with Bush, even though Jiang's focus will be persuading Washington not to incorporate Taiwan in an Asia-based theatre missile defense system.

Meanwhile, the decision by both countries to hold military maritime security talks is taken as a sign of thaw after the April 1 spy plane incident, in which an EP-3 reconnaissance aircraft collided with a Chinese jetfighter.

Referring to the talks, which will take place next week in Guam, spokesman Zhu said: "in order to avoid similar midair collisions, we will enhance such military maritime security talks."

Beijing sources said to prepare for the summit with Bush, Jiang has put together a special team of American experts that is drawn from the Foreign Ministry, the army, state security, and the foreign trade departments.