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Archived News Articles: NMD and Foreign Policy
7/25/2001 from AP:
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010725/wl/un_biological_ban_8.html
US Rejects Anti-Germ Warfare Accord
By ALEXANDER G. HIGGINS, Associated Press Writer
Wednesday July 25 11:26 AM ET
GENEVA (AP) - The United States - already facing
European criticism for rejecting a climate change accord
and insisting on a watered down agreement on small arms
- said Wednesday it was abandoning a U.N. draft accord
designed to give teeth to an anti-germ warfare treaty.
Nations have been negotiating since 1995 to develop an
accord on how to enforce the germ warfare treaty,
painstakingly working through disagreements over the
210-page document. The draft is intended to create a way
to inspect sites suspected of developing biological
weapons without interfering with legitimate industries
and facilities.
``In our assessment, the draft protocol would put
national security and confidential business information
at risk,'' said U.S. chief negotiator Donald A. Mahley,
effectively killing nearly seven years of negotiations.
The U.S. announcement as the sole country rejecting it
went farther than many experts had expected and appeared
to discourage other key countries, including those
friendly to the United States. ...
Also:
http://news.excite.com/news/ap/010725/14/news-un-biological-ban
And: http://www.msnbc.com/news/604811.asp
7/25/2001 from The Washington Post:
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44090-2001Jul24.html
U.S. Will Not Seek To Alter ABM Treaty
Joint Withdrawal With Russia Is Goal
By Alan Sipress, Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 25, 2001; Page A13
The United States does not intend to amend the
Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty to allow for the
development of a missile defense system but will instead
seek Russia's agreement for both countries to withdraw
from the accord, administration officials said yesterday.
If Moscow does not agree to mutual withdrawal, the
officials said, the United States would seek to replace
the 1972 ABM Treaty with a political declaration about
the permissibility of missile defenses. But Bush
officials repeated yesterday that this substitute would
not be a new, full-blown arms control treaty.
Should Russia balk at both mutual withdrawal and a joint
statement, the Bush administration would be forced to
announce its unilateral pullout from the treaty. Such a
move is allowed on six months' notice. ...
7/27/2001 from AP:
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010727/wl/russia_us_abm_3.html
Russia Opposes Scuttling ABM Treaty
By JUDITH INGRAM, Associated Press Writer
Friday July 27 2:21 PM ET
MOSCOW (AP) - Russian officials heard nothing new from
National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice that would
cause them to temper their opposition to jettisoning the
Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, the Russian Foreign
Ministry said Friday.
But a Russian official put a new spin on upcoming
U.S.-Russian talks on strategic stability, suggesting
North Korea and Iran could join the discussions that are
to start in August. The United States has cited both as
potential hostile nuclear powers that necessitate
development of the missile shield.
``We are for bringing the maximum number of countries
possessing nuclear arms or technologies into the process
of discussion of strategic stability issues in the
framework of the ABM treaty,'' the deputy security
council secretary, Oleg Chernov, was quoted as saying by
the Interfax news agency.
He said the ABM treaty did not concern just the United
States and Russia, but also the world's other nuclear
powers ``and the world community as a whole,'' Interfax
reported, adding that Chernov suggested that Pyongyang
and Tehran be included in the talks.
After meeting with President Vladimir Putin and other
top officials Thursday, Rice told reporters that Moscow
and Washington had made progress - now discussing ``how
you move forward, not if you move forward'' toward
construction of the U.S. missile defense shield.
But Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said
Moscow had no intention of budging from its vehement
opposition to such a shield, which would violate the ABM
treaty that Russia holds sacred as the foundation of
strategic stability. ...
7/27/2001 from AP, Reuters:
http://news.excite.com/news/ap/international/powell
Colin Powell Arrives in Beijing
By GEORGE GEDDA, Associated Press Writer
Updated: Fri, Jul 27 10:12 PM EDT
BEIJING (AP)- Secretary of State Colin Powell said he is
intent on confronting China about military and weapons
exports in violation of agreements. He planned to meet
with President Jiang Zemin and other Chinese leaders. ...
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010727/wl/china_usa_dc_1.html
Powell Begins Fence-Mending Visit to China
7/28/2001 from msnbc and AP:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/604041.asp?pne=msn
Powell claims progress with China
Weapons sales, human rights, top secretary's agenda
MSNBC NEWS SERVICES
BEIJING, July 28 - After a round of meetings with
China's highest officials, U.S. Secretary of State Colin
Powell said the two nations had made some progress on
the issue of arms sales and a proposed Pentagon missile
shield. But differences remained on nuclear technology.
POWELL SAID SATURDAY he was able to narrow differences
with China on military exports. He also gave assurances
that the U.S. missile defense initiative will not pose a
threat to China. ...
On his first visit here since he became secretary of
state, Powell met with Chinese President Jiang Zemin,
Premier Zhu Rongji, Vice Prime Minister Qian Qichen and
Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan. Powell, the most senior
Bush administration official to visit China, began his
one-day visit by meeting with Tang to discuss China's
record of compliance with a November 2000 agreement in
which it promised not to sell missiles or components to
countries such as North Korea and Iran, who are trying
to develop nuclear weapons. ...
China's official Xinhua News Agency reported that Tang
said while the two nations have various differences,
they also have extensive and common interests. Tang
added that China intends to work toward building a
cooperative relationship with the United States. Powell
said he offered assurances to China that the missile
defense system planned by the Bush administration would
be limited. He added that it would not threaten the
strategic deterrent of either China or Russia....
Powell's meetings in Beijing are designed to prepare for
a visit to China in October by President Bush. The Bush
administration has made human rights a priority. "Our
relations with China represent some serious
opportunities, particularly on the trade front. (They)
also represent particular challenges involving human
rights," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said. ...
During his stop Friday in Seoul, Powell's talks with
senior South Korean officials were dominated by concerns
over North Korea. He sought to reach out to North Korea,
saying that Washington is ready for talks with the
reclusive Stalinist regime any time, anywhere, with no
preconditions. ...
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010728/ts/powell_32.html
Powell Says China Differences Narrowed
By GEORGE GEDDA, Associated Press Writer
Saturday July 28 1:21 PM ET
BEIJING (AP) - Secretary of State Colin Powell narrowed
differences with China over Beijing's military exports,
while giving assurances Saturday that the planned U.S.
missile defense system does not pose a threat to China.
Although outstanding issues remain, Powell told a news
conference after meetings with Chinese leaders that he
``was able to move the ball forward'' on U.S. concerns
about Chinese missile and weapons technology exports.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Sun Yuxi, said in
a subsequent news conference that China has been making
an earnest effort to comply with its obligations,
outlined in a U.S.-China nonproliferation agreement
signed in November. Sun contended that the United States
has failed to comply with its commitments - an apparent
reference to the absence of cooperation on commercial
satellite launches. In the agreement, Beijing promised
not to sell missiles or components to countries
developing nuclear weapons. ...
7/28/2001 from Reuters:
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010728/pl/plane_space_dc_2.html
Pentagon Considers 'Space Bomber' - La Times
Saturday July 28 8:59 AM ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Pentagon is looking into the
development of a futuristic bomber that would take off
like a long-range missile and drop precision bombs from
heights of 60 miles or more, the Los Angeles Times
reported in its Saturday edition.
The Times, citing a government planning document, said
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld ordered the Pentagon
last month to consider the sub-orbital space craft for
rapid global strikes.
It said the bomber, possibly manned, was expected to
travel 15 times the speed and 10 times the altitude of
existing bombers and hit targets on the other side of
the world in a half-hour. ...
7/31/2001 from The Washington Post:
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8875-2001Jul30.html
Double Talk On Missile Defense
By Michael O'Hanlon
Tuesday, July 31, 2001; Page A23
During his recent meetings in Beijing, Secretary of
State Colin Powell repeated his frequent refrain that
the Bush administration desires only a "limited"
capability to shoot down long-range missiles. His words
were intended to reassure rulers in Beijing who fear
that an American missile shield allegedly designed
against North Korea, Iran or Iraq might really be
intended to neutralize their small nuclear deterrent.
Powell's words failed to calm the Chinese. That should
come as no surprise to anyone who has been listening to
other Bush administration officials of late. Powell may
himself prefer that any future U.S. and allied missile
defense be limited, in order to preserve good relations
and security cooperation among the great powers while
dealing with the rogue-state threat. But all available
evidence suggests that he is losing the debate within
the administration on the subject. ...
The specifics of the Pentagon's plans remain vague at
this point. But by a conservative estimate, they suggest
that the United States would ultimately deploy at least
1,000 defensive interceptors capable of shooting down
long-range missile warheads. ...
Condoleezza Rice ... has made it clear that the
administration not only wants to eliminate the ABM
Treaty but that it wishes to do away with strategic arms
control in general. The "new framework" that Bush
promised Moscow in his May 1 speech at National Defense
University would consist of nothing more than
information exchanges between Russia and the United
States.
Coupled with the Pentagon's budget plans, the meaning of
this policy is becoming clear. The Bush administration
wants to pursue any and all missile defense technologies
without restraint and without limitation. In other
words, the administration means just the opposite of
what Colin Powell has said in Beijing. ...
7/31/2001 from Reuters: http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010731/pl/arms_missiles_congress_dc_1.html
House Panel OKs Missile Defense Funds
Tuesday July 31 2:27 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A House of Representatives
subcommittee on Tuesday authorized more than $8 billion
in spending for missile defense programs and granted the
general in charge of development more flexibility in
spending the funds. ...
The money was part of a $37.7 billion authorization for
research and development programs. ...
The bill approved by the subcommittee includes $786
million for work on a new missile test bed in Alaska
that could lead to deployment of missile interceptors
there. ...
The Democratic-led Senate has not started to consider
its authorization bill. Democrats in the Senate are also
expected to try to cut the missile defense funds
requested by Bush.
7/31/2001 from The Moscow Times:
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2001/07/19/009.html
Isolating Uncle Sam
By Pavel Felgenhauer
Thursday, Jul. 19, 2001. Page 8
President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart
Jiang Zemin signed the first post-Soviet friendship
treaty between the two nations this week. "The treaty
will bring friendship from generation to generation,"
Jiang said after the signing ceremony. "This is a
milestone in the development of Chinese-Russian
relations."
In a joint statement, Putin and Jiang said they were
hoping for a "just and rational new international order"
to reflect their concept of a "multipolar" world led by
the United Nations, rather than Washington. ...
A Chinese-U.S. confrontation over Taiwan is perceived in
Moscow as a distinct possibility in the coming decade.
The repeated emphasis that the new pact with Beijing is
not a military alliance is a clear indication of
Moscow's desire to keep out of the fray. But Russia's
neutral stance will most probably be tilted strongly in
favor of China.
In the last several months, Washington has been
regularly probing Russian officials on the possibility
of forming a closer alliance based in part on a
coordinated effort to contain China - a possible threat
to both nations in the future. But these advances have
been rejected. ...
Russia is today supplying China with modern weapons and
will most probably continue to supply arms if a conflict
erupts over Taiwan. In 2000, according to industry
sources, Chinese military procurement in Russia doubled
to nearly $2 billion (more than 60 percent of all
Russian arms exports). China is today negotiating the
purchase of Russia's newest anti-ship missile, the
Granit, which is deployed on Oscar II (Kursk-type)
nuclear attack submarines. ...
The Granit cruise missiles are designed to carry nuclear
warheads to knock out U.S. aircraft carriers. China
could equip Russian Granits with its own nukes and alter
the strategic balance in the Eastern Pacific.
Russian military sources say that Granit cruise missiles
have a very sophisticated computerized guidance system
that uses an on-board radar and also can take in data
from Russian spy and navigation satellites. Today it's
reported there's a package deal being negotiated with
Beijing that will involve Chinese investment to help
prop up Russia's ailing military satellite constellation
in exchange for data.
Russia and China are forming a relationship that is an
alliance in everything but name. We will not fight for
China, but we hope that our weapons and military
technologies will help diminish U.S. influence in Asia
and in the Pacific and promote a "multipolar world,"
while the proceeds of arms trade will be used to keep
our defense industry ticking. ...
7/31/2001 from The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/31/international/31GLOB.html
White House Says the U.S. Is Not a Loner, Just Choosy
By THOM SHANKER
July 31, 2001
WASHINGTON, July 30 - In his first six months in office,
President Bush has abandoned a treaty on fighting global
warming, rejected protocols enforcing a ban on germ
warfare, demanded amendments to an accord on illegal
sales of small arms, threatened to skip an international
conference on racism and vowed to withdraw from a
landmark pact limiting ballistic missile defenses.
The reaction from Berlin to Beijing has been one of
concern that an American president who walks away from
so many treaties might be one who wants to walk away
from the world - or, at the least, one who will demand
that the world live by terms dictated by America alone.
...
... by knocking off several of the hard-earned,
high-profile treaties on arms control and the
environment, Mr. Bush has been subjected to outrage from
some of America's closest friends - who wonder what will
replace a world ordered by treaties - as well as its
adversaries who see arrogance in Mr. Bush's actions.
The British, for example, consider themselves America's
greatest friends in Europe and often find themselves
defending United States behavior to dubious
Continentals. But their task has been complicated by
what many perceive as American unilateralism and
finger-in-the-eye confrontation in place of diplomacy.
...
... writing in the German weekly Die Zeit, Theo Sommer
compared Mr. Bush's style to that of Andrei A. Gromyko,
the grizzled Soviet foreign minister known to a
generation of diplomats as "Grim Grom" and "Mr. Nyet."
"The president says `no,' not grimly, but with a smile.
Yet he shows his teeth in doing so," Mr. Sommer wrote.
"He does not concede, he does not give up, he does not
surrender. He offers everyone consultations, partners
and rivals alike; he promises to keep in touch; that is
why, he assures everyone, you cannot talk about an
American go-it-alone attitude. Yet the conversations are
aimed at conversion, not compromise."
In China, the president's actions have served to cement
in the public mind their government's characterization
of the United States as hegemonic. ... "After Bush came
into power, the most noteworthy aspect of his
administration's foreign policy is unilateralism," Yan
Xuetong, director of the Institute of International
Studies at Qinghua University, wrote last week in the
People's Daily. "It neither negotiates with the
principal countries whose interests are involved nor
exchanges views with its allies on international
affairs." ...
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