China warns US of fresh arms race

China warns US of fresh arms race

BEIJING: China has warned the start of a new round of the global arms race if the US went ahead with the development and deployment of the National Missile Defence (NMD) and Theatre Missile Defence (TMD) programmes. ``This move by the US is by no means conducive for the global arms control and disarmament endeavour, it might lead to a new round of international arms race that will produce widespread and far-reaching negative impacts on the global and regional strategic balance in the 21st century,'' Sha Zukang, China's top arms control official said.Sha's criticism came in the wake of a bill passed by the US Congress last week committing to building a national defence against limited ballistic missile attack as soon as technologically possible. Sha, director-general of Chinese foreign ministry's department of arms control and disarmament, expressed strong opposition to US plans to develop and deploy the space-based NMD and TMD systems.

China fears the system could spark a costly arms race, would strengthenUS military alliances with Japan and South Korea and may be used to protect Taiwan, thereby obstructing reunification, he said.He pointed out that Washington already possesses the world's biggest and most advanced arsenals. He accused Washington of even trying to withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty in order to develop NMD and TMD, so as to acquire a unique shield to its already unmatched offensive power. The US side is even prepared to withdraw from the ABM Treaty, which has served as the cornerstone of the global strategic balance and stability, Sha said, while pointing out that Washington was finding some pretext or the other to amend the ABM Treaty.

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