The Chinese and Russian governments are in firm opposition to the US deployment of the National Missile Defense (NMD) system, President Jiang Zemin and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin said Tuesday in a joint statement.
The statement reiterated the significance of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty in disarmament and non-proliferation.
"Implementing the NMD will engender the most serious negative results on the national security of China, Russia and other countries, as well as on the security of the United States and the global strategic stability,'' said the statement, interpreting the US intention as "to seek a unilateral military and security edge.''
The statement also expressed serious concern on the plan of "certain countries'' to deploy a non-strategic missile defense system in the Asia-Pacific Region that both presidents believe will harm other countries' national security, lead to the establishment and enhancement of military and political groups and damage regional and global stability and security.
"The incorporation of Taiwan into any foreign missile defense system is unacceptable,'' said the statement. "It will seriously damage stability in the region.''
The ABM treaty has been a focus of recent presidential talks -- in person and by phone -- between China and Russia.
Both leaders have repeatedly stressed their opposition to the US suggestion to review the ABM treaty, which allows each signatory state to deploy only one regional missile defense system.
Jiang Zemin stressed in his meeting with Putin that the two countries, both permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, should work together to push the establishment of a new world political and economic order.
"Both Russia and China can make decisive contributions to strengthening global security,'' said Putin while meeting the press after his talks with Jiang.
Putin highlighted the shared stance on the current international situation and called for further co-operation in the field.
During the meeting between Defense Minister Chi Haotian and his Russian counterpart Igor Dmitriyevich Sergeyev, Chi highly praised the co-operation between the two nations in the field of anti-ballistic missiles, noting that China appreciated Russia's position on honoring the ABM treaty and preserving the international strategic stability.
Sergeyev said the friendly ties between the two militaries strengthen regional and international security, according to a Defense Ministry spokesman.
(China Daily)
