Global Security Newswire

WASHINGTON — China yesterday strongly criticized a recent report prepared by a U.S. congressionally-mandated commission warning that Beijing continues to pose proliferation concerns (see GSN, June 16).

During a press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue accused the U.S.-Economic and Security Review Commission of demonstrating in its latest annual report a “hostile view” of U.S.-Chinese relations.

In its report, released earlier this week, the commission warned that Chinese entities continue to proliferate WMD- and ballistic missile-related dual-use items, despite government pledges to prevent such activities and despite the repeated imposition of U.S. sanctions (see GSN, April 5). The commission also accused China of failing to fully use its leverages over North Korea, such as food and energy aid, to help persuade Pyongyang to end its suspected nuclear weapons efforts.

“Unfortunately, even in light of overwhelming evidence of the increased threat to global security, Chinese entities continue to proliferate. This activity calls into question the effectiveness of the U.S. government’s pursuit of a partnership with Beijing in … resolving the crisis on the Korean Peninsula,” the commission said.

The commission’s findings were the subject of a hearing held by the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday. In his opening statement, committee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) called the report a “wake-up call for United States policy-makers concerned with both trade and national security issues.”

Zhang said yesterday, though, that the commission’s report had “severely misled the public.”

“The purpose of the report is to drum up for the ‘China threat theory’ and meddle with and undermine the exchanges and cooperation between China and the U.S. in various fields. We are firmly opposed to this,” Zhang said.

Zhang also called on the United States to “express clear opposition to the report and its so-called proposals.”

Commission Chairman Roger Robinson said today, though, that he believed the group’s findings would help improve U.S.-China relations.

“Congress established the commission with the goal of assessing where problems and shortfalls exist in the bilateral relationship. The purpose was to surface problems so that suitable remedies can be found through a candid and open dialogue. We believe our report will help put the relationship on a more positive, sustainable footing,” Robinson said.