Foreign missile umbrella on Taiwan opposed
By Sun Shangwu (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-09-02 05:34

No country should include Taiwan in its missile defence system because the question of Taiwan involves China's core interests.

Also, such a system will impact on international stability and state-to-state relations, and trigger proliferation of missile technology, said Zhang Yan, director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Department of the Foreign Ministry.

"China opposes any attempt to provide support or help to Taiwan with missile defence systems," said Zhang yesterday at a press conference hosted by the State Council's Information Office.

The office yesterday released a white paper entitled "China's Endeavours for Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation," which elaborates on China's policy in this field.

Zhang said China always stands for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons.

"The Chinese Government has solemnly declared that it would not be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time and in any circumstance," said Zhang, citing the policy paper.

He said that China has committed unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon countries or nuclear-weapon-free zones.

The paper said China closed down a nuclear weapons research and development base in its northwestern Qinghai Province in the 1990s.