China is willing to negotiate with the United States on the issue of the Theatre Missile Defence System (TMD) and the National Missile Defence System (NMD), Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said in Beijing Thursday at a regular news briefing.
When asked for comments on what will happen if the US sends officials to Beijing to discuss the issue, Sun said that China, as always, is opposed to TMD and NMD.
Sun pointed out that the Anti-ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM) serves as the cornerstone of global strategic balance and stability, and the TMD and NMD initiatives will definitely ruin this balance and lead to another arms race.
The spokesman urged the US to adopt a cautious attitude toward the issue and observe the ABM and other related arms- control treaties and agreements.
China is willing to negotiate with the US on the issue if the US sends officials to China to discuss it, Sun said.
(Xinhua 05/10/2001)
