U.S.: Beijing continues missile sales to Middle East despite war
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SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, October 31, 2001
WASHINGTON Ñ China appears to have used the U.S.-led war in
Afghanistan to sell missile components to Iran and Iraq.
U.S. officials said Beijing continues to violate its pledge given nearly
a year ago to stop missile sales to the Middle East. The officials said U.S.
intelligence agencies have evidence of sales and deliveries to a range of
clients, such as Iran, Iraq, Libya and Syria.
China is also selling nuclear technology to Iran, Middle East Newsline reported.
The sale appears to have violated a 1997 pledge by Beijing to halt
deliveries of nuclear material.
"The Chinese government's continuing sale of arms and other assistance
to many of the countries on the State Department's list of state sponsors of
terrorism is of particular concern," Sen. Jon Kyl, the ranking Republican on
the Senate subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism and Government Information,
said. "Beijing has sold ballistic missile technology to Iran, North Korea,
Syria, Libya, and Pakistan. It has sold nuclear technology to Iran and
Pakistan. It has sold Iran advanced cruise missiles and aided that country's
chemical weapons program. And it has provided technological assistance to
Iraq."
Kyl, who is also a member of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee,
said China continues to lie about its nuclear and missile technology
proliferation. He
said the aid is helping Iran deploy missiles with nuclear warheads.
Officials have warned that China could accelerate missile and WMD aid
over the next few months as the Bush administration seeks Beijing's support
for the war against Afghanistan. The administration has proposed lifting
sanctions from China relating to its proliferation activities in the Middle
East.
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