China is prepared to address U.S. concerns about weapons proliferation this week during U.S. President George W. Bush’s visit, according to diplomats (see GSN, Jan. 31).

Government officials are ready to compromise and might publish a list banning certain exports if the United States lifts sanctions prohibiting U.S. companies from launching satellites on Chinese rockets, a Chinese official said.

“Nonproliferation is a shared objective,” the official said.  “There’s no reason for either party to pretend it is on higher moral ground.”

China has not promised to meet U.S. demands, diplomats said, but it seems focused on strengthening the U.S.-China relationship, which has improved since China gave its support to the U.S. war on terrorism after the Sept. 11 attacks, according to the Washington Post.

“China is coming around to pressure from the international community not to proliferate,” said a senior Asian diplomat.  “They’re realizing this is an issue the U.S. thinks is important, and that a good, solid relationship with the United States is more important than these sales.”

The Bush administration has made nonproliferation a “make-or-break issue” with China, according to U.S. diplomats.  The United States wants China to stop exporting technology related to weapons of mass destruction, particularly to Iran, Iraq and North Korea, which Bush labeled the “axis of evil” last month (Pan/Pomfret, Washington Post, Feb. 20).

U.S. Concerns

The Bush administration has taken a different approach to China than the Clinton administration, according to the Christian Science Monitor.  Bush officials have increased weapons sales to Taiwan, significantly reduced military ties to China and labeled the country a “strategic competitor” in contrast with former President Bill Clinton’s “strategic partner” term (see GSN, Jan. 4).

U.S. officials believe China proliferates missile technology to Pakistan, Iran and other countries, despite a November 2000 promise to the United States to end transfers of technology for nuclear-capable ballistic missiles(see GSN, Feb. 4). 

Chinese Concerns

China is concerned about an increase in U.S. troops in Central and South Asia and new U.S.-India military ties (Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, Feb. 20).  Chinese officials have also said that U.S. plans to build a national missile defense system could negatively affect China’s intercontinental ballistic missile deterrent and give the United States the ability to dominate any confrontation (see GSN, Feb. 12).

Last week U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice attempted to reassure China that U.S. plans will not threaten its influence.

“Our missile defense program is defensive in nature.  It is not aimed at anybody,” she said.  “It is not intended to give the United States unilateral advantage” (Associated Press/New York Times, Feb. 20).

Working the “Axis”

Meanwhile, in addition to the possibility of increased cooperation on nonproliferation issues, China has also used its influence to pressure Iraq to allow U.N. weapons inspectors to return, according to the Post (see GSN, Feb. 15).  China maintains military relations with Iraq, Iran and North Korea and warmly welcomed Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz two years ago, the Post said.

When Aziz visited Beijing last month, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji repeated that China opposes unilateral U.S. action against Iraq but also publicly told Aziz that Iraq should allow inspectors to return (see GSN, Feb. 8).  Chinese officials privately told Aziz that China could do little to help Iraq if the country refused to abide by U.N. resolutions.

“Aziz came to China to get Chinese support,” said a diplomat.  “He got zilch.”

“We are seeing a pattern of the Chinese trying to influence the bad guys’ behavior,” said a Western diplomat.  “We saw it in Pakistan.  We are seeing it now with Iraq.  Maybe Iran and North Korea will be next” (Pan/Pomfret, Washington Post, Feb. 19).

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