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China dismisses U.S. report

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE Aug. 2. China has expressed "resolute opposition'' to the latest Pentagon's perception that Beijing is now engaged in staying the course of an upward trajectory in developing ballistic missiles.

Responding to a media query in this regard, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Kong Quan, said Beijing "expresses its strong dissatisfaction'' over the U.S. view about a "so-called missile threat posed by China's mainland against Taiwan''.

Mr. Kong said: "It is the indisputable right of all countries to safeguard (their) state sovereignty and territorial integrity. The purpose that (a) relevant side of the U.S. (the Pentagon) has repeatedly spread (the story of) the so-called missile threat posed by China's mainland against Taiwan is to seek (American) public opinion and support''. The Pentagon's aim, too, was to "create (an) excuse for its sale of advanced weapons to Taiwan''.

China's was resolutely opposed to this line of American thinking and policy.

China's portrayal of the Pentagon's ruse to raise the level of U.S. military assistance to Taiwan should be seen in the overall context of the latest report in focus.

The report by the U.S. Department of Defence said that "Beijing has greatly expanded its arsenal of increasingly accurate and lethal ballistic missiles and long-range strike aircraft that are ready for immediate application, should the (People's Liberation Army) be called upon to conduct war (on the Taiwan issue) before its (the PLA's) modernisation aspirations are fully realised''.

The Pentagon report noted that "should China use force against Taiwan, its (Beijing's) primary goal likely would be to compel a quick negotiated solution on terms favourable to Beijing''.

It was also underlined that "Beijing apparently believes that the United States poses a significant long-term challenge'', particularly with regard to Taiwan.

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