Admiral warns of Chinese strategic aid to U.S. allies
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SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, March 6, 2002
WASHINGTON Ñ The United States has expressed concern that China is
providing aid for its allies to develop nuclear weapons.
U.S. officials said Beijing's efforts have focused on Pakistan.
"Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction has also been a concern,
especially Chinese assistance to Pakistan in developing nuclear weapons,"
Admiral Dennis Blair, the commander-in-chief of U.S. forces in
the Pacific said. "There are international conventions to cover
proliferation, but enforcement varies."
Blair, in a Feb. 21 address to the 2002 Pacific Symposium at the
National Defense University at Fort McNair in Washington, said U.S. efforts
to stop nonproliferation and encourage cooperation between China and its
U.S.-supported neighbors have been limited. The commander said the United
States requires a vigorous intelligence effort to monitor weapons of mass
destruction.
Blair's assertion concerning China was a rare disclosure regarding
Beijing's exports of nuclear technology and components. U.S. officials said
China has relayed assistance through Pakistan and North Korea in the field
of nuclear and ballistic missile technology.
"North Korea continued procurement of raw materials and components for
its ballistic missile programs from various foreign sources, especially
through North Korean firms based in China," a CIA report released last month
said.
In 1996, China relayed a pledge to the United States that it would end
the export of nuclear technology to Pakistan. But U.S. officials said they
are skeptical whether Beijing has honored the agreement. They said the
nuclear expertise obtained by Pakistan could be reexported to Islamabad's
allies in the Arab world.
"We are increasingly concerned about the growth of 'secondary
proliferation' from maturing state-sponsored programs, such as those in
India, Iran, North Korea, and Pakistan," the CIA report said. "These
countries and others are not members of supplier groups such as the Nuclear
Suppliers Group, Australia Group and the Missile Technology Control Regime
and do not adhere to their export constraints."
In his address, Blair said U.S. military and intelligence organizations
must coordinate to stop WMD proliferation. He said his naval command has
been grappling with questions regarding the level of cooperation by
proliferators and insurgency groups.
"Good human intelligence will give us all a tremendous advantage over
terrorists, druggies, and WMD proliferators, but it's extremely hard to
infiltrate agents into these organizations," Blair said.
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