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US Arms Control Negotiator Begins Non-proliferation Talks with China
The top US arms control negotiator reopened non-proliferation talks with China Friday, signaling an end to a moratorium sparked by the NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade more than a year ago.
John Holum, undersecretary of state for security and arms control, met with Chinese leaders early Friday in Beijing after arriving Thursday evening, US Embassy spokesman John Berry said.
The talks are aimed at paving the way for a visit to China by US Defense Secretary William Cohen next week, which will be the first by a US defense secretary since the bombing.
Holum's visit and Cohen's scheduled trip are indications both countries are ready to resume normal, top-level arms control discussions.
Military talks and contact, along with human rights dialogue, were frozen following the May 7, 1999 bombing, which killed three Chinese nationals, injured more than 20 embassy staff and seriously damaged Sino-US relations.
Diplomatic sources said Friday that top items on the agenda for Holum and his counterparts included China's objections to US desires to build a missile defense shield to protect itself and a shield to protect its allies in Asia, including Taiwan.
China has voiced strong opposition to the US plans, saying they would lead to an arms race. Beijing has objected even more adamantly to Taiwan being included in the US defense system, saying that would be a blatant interference in China's internal affairs.
The island is seen by Beijing as an inseparable part of China.
The US side, sources said, would be seeking to encourage Beijing to bring about a peaceful resolution to the stalemate between Beijing and Taiwan's newly-elected leader, Chen Shui-bian.
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