HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK
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[It would appear that Russia and China are being
pressed toward closer union - a union of such size
and scope it would make the old Soviet Union or
NATO look like a tea party in comparisson.
The US 'New Missile Defence System' is nothing
more and nothing less than to 'defend' US incursions
into foreign lands.
With the old arms treaty being tossed in the waste
paper basket by the US thus proving its ephemeral
nature both China and Russia have no choice but to
develop a new defence system of their own.
It would also appear that just as the US government
drags its People backward China and Russia
are about to take a great leap forward.
Curiously defense is the true modus operendi of a
socialist system - defending nothing more and nothing
less than the interest of the working class.
The classic instance being of course the 'tunnels of
Chu Chi' in Vietnam which played a crucial role in
defeating the imperial invader.
Full text reprinted below... (Bill)]
[Via Communist Internet... http://www.egroups.com/group/Communist-Internet ]
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----- Original Message -----
From: Stasi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Anti-NATO <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: Anti-War <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2001 2:32 PM
Subject: ABM: Jiang Backs Putin On Axed Arms Treaty - SCMP [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK
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Saturday, December 15, 2001 2:17 PM
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
Saturday, December 15, 2001
Jiang backs Putin on axed arms treaty
Leaders reinforce support for 'strategic balance' in last-minute phone call
AGENCIES
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President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Vladimir Putin held
consultations immediately before the United States announced it would pull out of the
1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty.
State media said Mr Jiang received phone calls from Mr Putin and US
President George W. Bush while he was visiting Myanmar.
Mr Jiang told Mr Putin China believed that under the present global
situation it was important to maintain the existing international regimes on arms
control and arms reduction, Xinhua said.
Mr Jiang and Mr Putin discussed the issue just before Mr Bush issued his
statement on Thursday that the US would abandon the treaty in order to deploy a
missile defence system, the People's Daily said.
A Kremlin spokeswoman said the two men exchanged views that showed the
same approach towards "supporting the strategic balance in the world and preserving
international stability and security".
Interfax news agency quoted Mr Putin's press secretary as saying that the
Kremlin leader had also discussed the US move with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari
Vajpayee.
Russia's lower house of parliament yesterday rejected a resolution
condemning the US withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. The draft
resolution reflected Russian politicians' displeasure following Mr Bush's
announcement.
Mr Putin stressed that he considered Mr Bush's decision a mistake but that
Russia's own security would not be damaged.
Mr Jiang urged Mr Bush in the phone call to preserve the international
arms-control system. "China will make its own efforts to work with every nation of the
world to continue to uphold world peace and stability," Mr Jiang was quoted as saying.
Beijing worries that Mr Bush's plans to develop a missile defence system
will undercut the deterrent value of its small nuclear arsenal.
Mainland officials have warned that Beijing might respond by building more
nuclear missiles or trying to make its existing missiles more accurate.
Both Beijing and Moscow have viewed the ABM treaty as the cornerstone of
the global strategic balance and strongly oppose the unilateral withdrawal of the US
from the treaty and the planned missile defence shield.
China's Foreign Ministry expressed "concern" at the US announcement and
called on the US for new security dialogue to discuss Washington's missile defence
initiative.
"We've taken note of the relevant reports and express our concern,"
spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said. "China is not in favour of missile defence systems.
"We hope the US will heed seriously the opinion of other countries and
cautiously handle this issue."
The US was ready to hold a dialogue with China but details had yet to be
set, a US administration official said.
Mr Bush spoke to Mr Jiang on Thursday morning, the White House said.
A fledgling strategic partnership between China and Russia has been
largely based on fears of an over-dominant America in the post-Cold War era and has
centred on joint opposition to US plans to build a national missile shield.
The proposed shield is illegal under the ABM treaty. Beijing is also
concerned the shield could one day be extended to East Asia and cover Taiwan.
Saturday, December 15, 2001
Scrapping nuclear deal spells trouble
RAY CHEUNG
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Washington's abandonment of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty
could cause strategic problems for Beijing.
The move will pave the way for the US administration's plan to develop its
proposed missile defence system without any treaty violations. And if the system is a
success, China's small nuclear missile arsenal could be rendered useless.
According to Washington's Carnegie Endowment for International Peace,
China is estimated to have only about 20 missiles that can reach American shores,
while the United States has 5,949 warheads on 1,238 missiles and bombers all capable
of hitting Chinese targets.
Beijing is worried not only about missile defence but the enormous
ramifications the US withdrawal will have on international nuclear arms control.
Professor Li Bin, director of the arms control programme at Beijing's
Tsinghua University, said: "Our goal is to develop our economy, which needs a peaceful
global environment and a stable global military equilibrium. With the US leaving the
ABM treaty, it has broken this stability."
Beijing fears the Bush administration's action will mean nations will no
longer agree to any nuclear disarmament control treaties. This could push China into a
regional arms race with India and Pakistan.
China would have to divert resources from economic development to building
up its military strength, which it is loathe to do.
"We have enough domestic concerns. An arms race is only a rich man's game.
A poor man cannot play," said Professor Niu Jun, American foreign policy expert at
Beijing University's Institute of International Studies.
In the past few years, Beijing has expanded its defence budget. It was
announced this year that China would increase military spending by 17.7 per cent to
US$17.19 billion (HK$133.7 billion), the largest rise in history.
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