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Beijing continues missile sales to Middle East despite war

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM

Wednesday, October 31, 2001

WASHINGTON — China appears to have used the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan to sell missile components to Iran and Iraq.

U.S. officials said Beijing continues to violate its pledge given nearly a year ago to stop missile sales to the Middle East. The officials said U.S. intelligence agencies have evidence of sales and deliveries to a range of clients, such as Iran, Iraq, Libya and Syria.

China is also selling nuclear technology to Iran, Middle East Newsline reported. The sale appears to have violated a 1997 pledge by Beijing to halt deliveries of nuclear material.

"The Chinese government's continuing sale of arms and other assistance to many of the countries on the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism is of particular concern," Sen. Jon Kyl, the ranking Republican on the Senate subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism and Government Information, said. "Beijing has sold ballistic missile technology to Iran, North Korea, Syria, Libya, and Pakistan. It has sold nuclear technology to Iran and Pakistan. It has sold Iran advanced cruise missiles and aided that country's chemical weapons program. And it has provided technological assistance to Iraq."

Kyl, who is also a member of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, said China continues to lie about its nuclear and missile technology proliferation. He said the aid is helping Iran deploy missiles with nuclear warheads.

Officials have warned that China could accelerate missile and WMD aid over the next few months as the Bush administration seeks Beijing's support for the war against Afghanistan. The administration has proposed lifting sanctions from China relating to its proliferation activities in the Middle East.

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2001

Answers

wait a minute! wait just one minute!

they are ignoring a 1997 pledge to halt deliveries but are still selling?

sounds american to me. "You can buy it, but you'll have to come here to get it cuz we don't deliver."

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2001

China is a worse threat to us than the Middle East. China is ready to destabilize the Middle East with weapons. Armageddon here we come.

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2001