Missile System Threatens Relations: Military ExpertsUS proposals to include Taiwan in a Theater Missile Defense (TMD) system will upgrade technological ties between the United States and Taiwan and affect Sino-US relations, said Chinese military experts."It means the US could pitch a part of China against China," Song Xuefeng, a research fellow at the Academy of Military Science of the People's Liberation Army, was quoted as saying by Wednesday's Chinadaily. TMD, a variant of the National Missile Defense system which specifically protects the US, is aimed at shielding the US troops and its allies in Asia. It has caused great concern and opposition from the international community. China has accused the United States of exaggerating the threat of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as an excuse to project its military strength in Asia and as a reason to bring Taiwan under TMD. Taiwan's entry to TMD will represent "a paramilitary alliance" or "a de facto military alliance" with the US, said Luo Yuan, director of the Second Office of the Department of Strategy Studies at the academy. It would affect Sino-US relations, Luo added. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/ |