China is waiting for an official and more clear-cut explanation
from the US on the possible use of nuclear weapons against China
and six other countries, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said
yesterday.
Sun Yuxi, the FM spokesman, said at a press conference that while
China is aware some US officials have commented on the issue, it
still has more explaining to do.
Sun demanded an explanation from the US for questions raised in a
Los Angeles Times newspaper report. The article said the Pentagon
has informed the US Congress in a secret report of a plan that
includes the possible use of nuclear weapons against China and six
other countries in emergency situations.
Regarding China's stance on anti-terrorism, Sun made clear that
China would like to continue its exchange and co-operation with
other countries, including the United States, in the fight against
terrorism. He also said the fight would be a long-term and
complicated task for the international community, which requires
effective international collaboration.
Sun also expressed China's strong dissatisfaction and indignation
about the US permission to Taiwan's "defence minister" Tang
Yiau-ming to visit the US yesterday.
"What the US has done is an open violation of the one-China policy
and the three Sino-US joint communiques, and it will encourage the
'Taiwan independence' force," said Sun. "It will harm ties between
China and the US as well as relations across the Taiwan
Straits."
In
addition to these disputes, the latest US State Department report
on human rights conditions for last year has also angered China due
to accusations over human rights violations.
Sun yesterday said that the US should properly handle human rights
issues and keep up with the trend of human rights co-operation and
dialogue.
Sun, who will take the post as the Chinese ambassador to
Afghanistan next month, also briefed the press about an informal
meeting of the "Six Plus Two Group" held in Kabul on Monday.
(China Daily March 13,
2002)