Beijing: China on Tuesday declined to confirm
the claims of a top American official that President Hu Jintao
has given his nod for fresh UN sanctions against Iran during a
meeting with his US counterpart Barack Obama in Washington.
China, a close ally of Iran, has maintained that the
sanctions and pressure cannot fundamentally resolve Tehran's
nuclear issue and the matter should be resolved
diplomatically.
"China upholds its consistent stance on the Iran
nuclear issue. We support the international nuclear
non-proliferation system, maintain the peace and stability in
the Middle East, oppose Iran having nuclear weapons and
support a dual-track strategy," Foreign Ministry spokesperson
Jiang Yu said here.
She evaded a direct reply to persistent questions
whether Hu has agreed for sanctions but said, "China has
always believed that sanctions and pressure cannot
fundamentally resolve the issue, and dialogue and negotiation
are the best ways."
Jiang declined to support the claims by US National
Security Council Senior Director for Asian Affairs Jeff Bader
that the two Presidents in their meeting agreed for sanctions.
Official Xinhua news agency quoted Hu as telling Obama
that China hopes various parties will continue to step up
diplomatic efforts and actively seek effective ways to resolve
the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiations.
Hu also said China and the United States share the
same overall goal on the Iranian nuclear issue.
Hu said China stands ready to maintain consultation
and coordination with the US and other parties within the
5-plus-1 mechanism, which includes the permanent UN Security
Council members Britain, China, France, Russia and the US and
Germany, and in the United Nations and through other channels.
He stated China is always committed to upholding the
international nuclear non-proliferation regime and peace and
stability in the Middle East.
China says military ties with US still suspended
Military exchanges between China and
the United States are still suspended, a People's Liberation
Army spokesman said today, despite a recent warming of
relations between the countries.
China cut military ties with the United States earlier
this year after the Obama administration said it would go
ahead with a planned sale of USD 6.4 billion in military
hardware to Taiwan.
The sale of helicopters, missiles and other weapons came
before President Barack Obama had a White House meeting with
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, whom Beijing accuses
of trying to separate Tibet from China. The countries have
also tangled this year over trade disputes and cyberspying
accusations from Google Inc.
Hard-liners in the Chinese military argued for punishing
the US by withholding cooperation on issues such as Iran and
climate change.
Military exchanges with the United States are "still
suspended," said Xin Guo, a Bejiing-based foreign affairs
official from the PLA Air Force.
Xin spoke while accompanying a group of journalists to an
air force base near the northern commerical port of Tianjin.
The media, along with about 51 military attaches from
embassies in Beijing _ including the United States, Britain
and Israel _ witnessed a 15-minute demonstration of China's
domestically developed J-10 fighters by four pilots.
Chinese military officials called it the first such event
for the media and attaches and said more will follow to show
off China's army and navy as well.
"Today's a good beginning ... We will provide more
opportunities for the outside world to know about the Chinese
armed forces," defense ministry spokesman Huang Xueping told a
briefing after the demonstration.
Attaches said they were impressed by the performance and
encouraged by the military's efforts at more openness. "You
can see the change little by little every year," said
Engler-Sher Yossef, Israel's defense attache in Beijing. "In
two weeks there is a PLA navy briefing, too."
Despite strong talk from China after the Taiwan arms sale
announcement, ties have improved with the United States and
President Hu Jintao took part in an international nuclear
security summit in Washington, where the White House says
China agreed to work with the United States on possible
tougher sanctions against Iran.
Hu also held a bilateral meeting with Obama. Washington
also plans to play host to Hu again in the fall with all the
pomp of a state visit.
China proposes setting up of a N-Security Center of Excellence
Arguing that all countries
should have equal right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy,
Chinese President Hu Jintao today said that his country is
considering setting up a nuclear security "Center of
Excellence" in China.
"We are considering setting up of a nuclear security
Center of Excellence in China through cooperation with
relevant countries in order to play a bigger role in regional
nuclear security cooperation," Hu said in his remarks at the
Nuclear Security Summit.
Leaders of 47 nations are meeting to address the
problems of nuclear materials and the threats that rogue
nations and terrorist groups pose at the two-day Nuclear
Security Summit that has been convened by US President Barack
Obama.
Observing that China has adhered to the policy of
no-first use of nuclear weapons at any time under any
circumstances, Hu asserted that China will unconditionally not
use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear
weapon states or nuclear weapon free zone.
"We firmly oppose nuclear weapons proliferation, and
strongly support efforts to enhance international nuclear
security and the equal right of all countries to the peaceful
use of nuclear energy," he said and argued that nuclear energy
is clean and it must also be safe and secure.
The Chinese President also called for the early entry
into force of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical
Protection of Nuclear Material and promote universality of the
International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of
Nuclear Terrorism.
Hu said with non-traditional security issues becoming
more prominent, the potential threat of nuclear terrorism
cannot be neglected and the risk of nuclear material diversion
and illicit trafficking is on the rise.
"It is incumbent upon all countries to properly
address the nuclear security challenge, ensure sustained and
sound development of nuclear energy, and uphold international
security and stability," he said.
"Countries should make good use of existing
multilateral and bilateral cooperation mechanisms and channels
to share experience in nuclear security and intensify
information exchange and law enforcement cooperation,"he said.
Hu said the IAEA and developed countries should offer
greater economic, technical and human resources assistance to
developing countries in order to achieve nuclear security for
all.
"And in doing so, they should respect the wishes of
developing countries and act in the light of their real needs
and existing conditions," he said.
The Chinese President argued that nuclear security
measures should help foster an enabling environment for
peaceful use of nuclear energy by all countries and facilities
related international cooperation.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, April 13, 2010, 23:28