 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Rumsfeld Questions Chinese General's Nuke Threat
Washington (AFP) Jul 18, 2005 US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld questioned Monday whether a top Chinese general was reflecting the views of the Beijing government when he warned that China would use nuclear weapons if the US military intervened in Taiwan. "With respect to the general, it will be interesting to see to what extent his remarks do or do not reflect the views of his government, and I prefer to wait and see what transpires there," Rumsfeld said. General Zhu Chenghu, dean of China's National Defense University, made the warning last week at a briefing organized by a private Hong Kong organization. "If the Americans draw their missiles and position-guided ammunition onto the target zone on China's territory, I think we will have to respond with nuclear weapons," Zhu said in comments reported by the Financial Times and the Asian Wall Street Journal. Over the weekend, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman refused to disavow Zhu's remarks but said Beijing would seek to resolve the Taiwan issue in a peaceful manner. Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who joined Rumsfeld at a Pentagon press conference, said the general's remarks were "irresponsible and I couldn't believe that they represent the views of the government." Rumsfeld said the Pentagon will release a report to Congress this week detailing a military buildup by China that Washington worries may upset the balance of power in the region. "It's a very straightforward description of ... a significant military buildup that is taking place," he said. Howard said that while China's military and economic might is growing, he believed Beijing understood that "military conflict of any kind is not conducive to their leading longer term goals." Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
World Powers Threaten Defiant Iran Over Nuclear Crisis
Vienna (AFP) Jan 11, 2006World powers threatened Iran with UN Security Council sanctions Wednesday after it resumed sensitive nuclear activities as a defiant Tehran vowed to press ahead with its disputed atomic programme. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
