China Tuesday congratulated US secretary of state-designate Colin Powell but expressed concern over his support for a national missile defense (NMD) system.
Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan sent a message of congratulations to Powell shortly after he was named to the key post by president-elect George W. Bush, said foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Quiye.
Zhang told reporters the message pointed out both countries shared great responsibilities on the world stage and a potential for cooperation.
Asked about the Bush team's more hawkish approach to China than the previous administration -- they have called Beijing a competitor rather than a partner -- Zhang struck a positive note.
"We have also taken note that in his remarks, Mr. Powell said the United States will cooperate with China and other countries," she said.
However when asked about Powell's support for NMD, she reiterated China's strong opposition to the project.
"If a certain country continues to develop or deploy a missile defense system that is against the trend of time and is not conducive to the efforts of the international community for arms control and disarmament ... then China expresses great concern over this," she said.
China has repeatedly and vociferously voiced its opposition to NMD, which it worries could also spawn a Theatre Missile Defense (TMD) to protect East Asia including Taiwan.
China fears the missile defense plans would give the United States and Taiwan a massive advantage in any war between Taiwan and mainland China.
After the failure of two out of three recent tests of the system, US President Bill Clinton suspended a decision on deploying NMD until the next administration.
In an interview with CNN after his appointment, Powell indicated the Bush administration would push ahead with NMD.
"We have to spend time with other nations in the world that possess strategic offensive weapons and do not yet understand our thinking in respect to national missile defense," said Powell.
"It will be tough negotiations. It will not be easy, but they have to understand that we feel this is in the best interest of the American people" -- BEIJING (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
