Missile Defense: China Strongly Opposes Missile Shield

As he headed into talks with the Chinese, Kelly noted that he would appeal to Chinese pragmatism in trying to persuade leaders of the world’s most populated country of the need for President Bush’s missile defense system. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Sun Yuxi, however, noted that, "China’s constant position is unchanged. We are opposed to the National Missile Defense because it destroys the global strategic balance and upsets international stability." Many in the U.S. interpret such statements to mean that China is concerned that the system weakens China’s position in the global strategic balance, a matter of great importance to the eastern country.

While a Washington Times report noted that U.S. spy satellites have detected strong evidence that Beijing is preparing to conduct underground nuclear weapons testing, Yuxi dismissed the report as "groundless and irresponsible." He went on to comment on the U.S. position that the missile shield would be used to protect the U.S. and other countries against rogue states firing nuclear weapons, noting that it would instead serve to create a new arms race and would directly violate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

The disagreement over the missile defense system is the latest in strained relations between the U.S. and China, which began with the refusal of the Chinese to return a U.S. spy plane crew for several days. The plane itself has still not been returned. Further rumblings occurred when President Bush promised to do "whatever it takes" to protect Taiwan if China were to attack.