Disarmament Diplomacy

News Review

No Breakthrough in US-China Non-Proliferation Discussions

Talks have been continuing between US and Chinese officials revolving principally around Washington's missile defence plans and China's policy on missile exports. Speaking in Beijing on October 10, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James Kelly noted: "We had extensive talks regarding our strategic framework, including an in-depth briefing on missile defence, and we had detailed discussion of our respective views on non-proliferation." A number of US officials have been expressing concern that these and previous discussions have failed to induce China to provide firm and specific guarantees that it will fully honour a commitment given in November 2000 not "to assist, in any way, any country in the development of ballistic missiles that can be used to deliver nuclear payloads" (see Disarmament Diplomacy No. 52, November 2000). On September 1, 2001, the US State Department announced the imposition of sanctions against the Chinese Metallurgical Equipment Corporation for allegedly supplying ballistic missile items to Pakistan (see last issue). According to an unnamed US official, quoted on October 11, the Chinese government did not refute the alleged transfer during the Beijing discussions, but rather argued that "sanctions should be waived because they are promised that it will not be a problem in the future." Another unnamed official remarked the same day: "There was basically no movement on the Chinese part... [Sanctions] will not be lifted without change in China's behaviour."

The official verdict on the meetings was provided by State Department spokesperson Richard Boucher on October 12: "The United States viewed these discussions as an opportunity to resolve this important issue in our relationship... [We] made clear that our intention was to achieve an authoritative clarification of China's willingness to implement fully the terms of the US-China November 2000 missile non-proliferation arrangements and to take appropriate action to implement these commitments. We are frankly disappointed that China is not in a position to provide authoritative assurances in this regard. ... [W]e will continue to raise this issue at all levels in the course of our exchange with China." The same day, a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement gave its interpretation: "The Chinese side...put forward a constructive programme, urging the US side to immediately stop its sanctions against China... China stressed that when it came to cooperation on non-proliferation, the two countries should proceed on the basis of equality and trust, requiring efforts from both sides."

Addressing his colleagues on October 26, Republican Senator Jon Kyl lambasted China's stance on WMD-related exports: "The Chinese government's continuing sale of arms and other assistance to many of the countries on the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism is of particular concern. Beijing has sold ballistic missile technology to Iran, North Korea, Syria, Libya, and Pakistan. It has sold Iran advanced chemical weapons and aided that country's chemical weapons programme. And it has provided technological assistance to Iraq. ... Scores of nations have taken the side of America in a battle to eradicate terrorists of global reach - but the most populous nation on the globe must truly back its words with actions."

Note: on November 15, the Commerce Department fined the McDonnell Douglas Corporation $2.12 million for making, in the words of a Department statement, "false and misleading statements about the end-use and end-user" of machine tools exported to China in 1994 and 1995. According to Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement Michael J. Garcia, this "case demonstrates that the Commerce Department will hold exporters strictly accountable for misrepresentations made in securing export licenses and for abiding by the terms and conditions of licenses once issued."

Reports: US diplomat ends talks with China on Bush visit, Reuters, October 10; US, China fail to resolve missile dispute, Reuters, October 11; US 'disappointed' by failure of missile talks with China, Agence France Presse, October 13; Excerpts - Senator says non-proliferation key to stopping terrorism, Washington File, October 26; Text - McDonnell Douglas fined for violating export control laws, Washington File, November 15.

© 2001 The Acronym Institute.