|
China rejects covert agents charges
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-14 18:45
China rejected charges on Tuesday that it had covert agents operating in the
United States to export military equipment, calling such accusations groundless.
U.S. prosecutors last week charged a Taiwanese citizen and a Frenchman of
trying to illegally export an F-16 jet engine, Blackhawk helicopter engines and
cruise missiles to the Chinese mainland, alleging they violated the Arms Export
Control Act.
"This kind of accusation that China is collecting scientific and military
intelligence is groundless," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a news
conference.
"China's military imports go through strict surveillance. Chinese enterprises
will never purchase any military goods that cannot provide legal documents," Liu
said.
Washington has repeatedly expressed concern about Beijing's intentions as it
pours more money into its military, and believes its military growth could upset
the balance of power with the Taiwan Straits.
China also distanced itself from an investigation in Tokyo into Japan's
Mitutoyo Corp., which Japanese media said was suspected of exporting equipment
that could be used in producing nuclear weapons.
Police believe Mitutoyo, which produces and sells precision measuring
equipment, illegally sold equipment that could be used to enrich uranium to
Japanese companies in China and Thailand. A similar device made by the firm was
found in Libya, the reports said.
Liu said the charges concerned Mitutoyo and its subsidiaries alone.
"We investigated this issue and found it has nothing to do with China," he
said.
"China's position on nonproliferation is clear. We resolutely oppose any
proliferation," Liu said, adding that China abides by the regulations of the
nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
|
