Global anti-missile plan just 'pie in sky'

By Li Xiaokun | China Daily | Updated: 2010-01-22 07:46

It is too early for China to say whether it is to join in the global anti-missile system that the US and Russia are discussing, as the targets and scale of the system are still unclear, a Chinese military expert said.

"The interests of many countries are involved in the plan, and it is too early to comment whether China will take apart in it," Peng Guangqian, a Beijng-based senior military analyst, said.

US Ambassador to Russia John Beyrle said on Wednesday in Moscow that the two nations are currently in discussion over the global missile defense plan.

Experts from both sides have held two rounds of talks on the possibility of setting up such a system, he told the Ekho Moskvy radio station, although he added the details have not yet been touched upon.

US President Barack Obama announced in September last year that the US would abandon the Bush-era missile defense shield program and instead initiate a "phased, adaptive approach" to counter missile threats from Iran.

The move that was warmly welcomed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev who responded by officially scrapping the proposed installation of short-range Iskander missiles in its western Kaliningrad enclave. The country had strongly opposed the Bush plan, which Moscow said threatens its security.

However, Moscow's urge for Washington to further expound the new approach received only lukewarm response.

The US-Russia missile defense system should cover threats from the world, Medvedev said in September. Russian military experts said his comments indicate Russia wants Beijing to join the system, because a "global missile defense system" without the participation of China is dangerous and unrealistic.

Some experts have suggested that China should be involved in the US-Russia missile defense system, or at least take part in the information collection step, or the trust between Beijing and Moscow will be impacted.

However, Peng said he doubts the possibility of Washington and Moscow producing tangible progress on the plan.

"The two countries have talked about a new strategic arms reduction treaty for a long time. Now it has been more than a month after the old one expired and they have yet to raise a new one," he said. "That shows how deep they are at odds on defense issues."

So, although the US diplomat said the negotiation is going on, "it is hard to tell whether they can have a result", he added.

But at least Beijing will hold on to the stance that the system should not endanger China's security and legal rights, said Major General Luo Yuan, a senior researcher with the Academy of Military Science.

"China welcomes moves to ease international tension. But we also care about our security," Luo said. "Our missile interception test and tests in space are never targeted at a third country."

(China Daily 01/22/2010 page11)