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Admiral warns of Chinese strategic aid to U.S. allies

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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