Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue refuted Thursday a United States report alleging that a Chinese company exported missile components to Pakistan.
Asked to comment on the report in The Washington Times on August 6, Zhang said the Chinese government stated clearly in November 2000, that China has no intention to assist any country in any way to develop ballistic missiles, which can be used to carry nuclear weapons.
She stressed that China has always fulfilled this commitment in a serious and responsible way.
"Some U.S. media with ulterior motives spread irresponsible and groundless rumors in attempts to slander China," she said, adding that the Chinese company concerned has issued a solemn statement on this matter.
Zhang pointed out that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and delivery equipment is a threat to international peace and security, and all countries are obliged to strictly abide by related international legal documents.
"Any country that carries out these documents in a selective way will surely sabotage international non-proliferation efforts," she said. "It is even more unacceptable to put pressure on other countries by spreading irresponsible rumors based on a so-called ' intelligence source.'"
Zhang stressed that the Chinese side has reason to urge the U.S. government to seriously carry out the policy it announced in November, 2000, and to take effective measures to remove artificially-imposed obstacles to satellite exports to China, so that the Sino-U.S. cooperation in the field of satellite launching can be normalized as soon as possible.
(Xinhua News Agency 08/09/2001)
