China warning after US missile defence plans
China warned against the bolstering
of military power and urged caution today after the US
announced it would increase its missile defences in response
to threats from North Korea.
"All measures seeking to increase military capacities will
only intensify antagonism and will not help to solve the
problem," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said when asked
about the US plans announced on Friday.
"We hope that the relevant parties will... adopt a
responsible attitude and deal with this issue in a cautious
manner," he said, adding: "China has always sought to prevent
missile proliferation."
His remarks came days after US Defence Secretary Chuck
Hagel vowed to increase by almost half the number of
interceptors stationed in Alaska, following Pyongyang's threat
of a "pre-emptive" nuclear attack against its arch-foe.
He also confirmed plans to increase missile defence
facilities in Japan.
China is North Korea's sole major ally and main trading
partner. But it has repeatedly expressed opposition to
Pyongyang's nuclear programme and has voted to support
sanctions at the United Nations, while urging diplomatic
solutions.
Analysts say China above all values political stability in
North Korea, fearful of a potential influx of migrants and a
united Korean peninsula with a US military presence which
might follow the collapse of the Pyongyang regime.
North Korea threatened to unleash a second Korean War --
backed by nuclear weapons -- in response to UN sanctions
imposed after it carried out its third atomic test in February
and to joint South Korea-US military manoeuvres.
The North fired short-range missiles into the East Sea
(Sea of Japan) on Friday, Yonhap news agency said, after
leader Kim Jong-Un oversaw a live-fire drill near the disputed
Yellow Sea border with the South
China warned against the bolstering
of military power and urged caution today after the US
announced it would increase its missile defences in response
to threats from North Korea.
"All measures seeking to increase military capacities will
only intensify antagonism and will not help to solve the
problem," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said when asked
about the US plans announced on Friday.
"We hope that the relevant parties will... adopt a
responsible attitude and deal with this issue in a cautious
manner," he said, adding: "China has always sought to prevent
missile proliferation."
His remarks came days after US Defence Secretary Chuck
Hagel vowed to increase by almost half the number of
interceptors stationed in Alaska, following Pyongyang's threat
of a "pre-emptive" nuclear attack against its arch-foe.
He also confirmed plans to increase missile defence
facilities in Japan.
China is North Korea's sole major ally and main trading
partner. But it has repeatedly expressed opposition to
Pyongyang's nuclear programme and has voted to support
sanctions at the United Nations, while urging diplomatic
solutions.
Analysts say China above all values political stability in
North Korea, fearful of a potential influx of migrants and a
united Korean peninsula with a US military presence which
might follow the collapse of the Pyongyang regime.
North Korea threatened to unleash a second Korean War --
backed by nuclear weapons -- in response to UN sanctions
imposed after it carried out its third atomic test in February
and to joint South Korea-US military manoeuvres.
The North fired short-range missiles into the East Sea
(Sea of Japan) on Friday, Yonhap news agency said, after
leader Kim Jong-Un oversaw a live-fire drill near the disputed
Yellow Sea border with the South
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