U.S., China Agree on Broad Goals but Few Specifics in Arms Control Talks

The first Sino-U.S. talks on arms control in 1 1/2 years yielded broad agreement on nonproliferation goals but sharp differences on particulars, such as alleged Chinese missile assistance to Pakistan, U.S. officials said Saturday.

John Holum, the chief U.S. negotiator on nonproliferation issues, described his two days of talks with Chinese officials here as “constructive” but not conclusive. They were the first such formal talks since November 1998--and since Beijing angrily cut off all dialogue on weapons control last year after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s accidental bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.

Holum sought to emphasize areas of accord between the U.S. and China, such as the need to rein in the spread of nuclear technology--common goals that have been stated before.

But he acknowledged disputes over specific concerns, especially U.S. plans to develop a missile defense shield, which Beijing bitterly opposes, and China’s alleged role in helping Pakistan strengthen its offensive capabilities against the two countries’ mutual rival, India.

Reports have filtered out in recent weeks that China’s Communist regime is actively helping Pakistan upgrade its arsenal of missiles. Chinese technology could enable Pakistani missiles to deliver nuclear payloads to populous Indian cities such as New Delhi, U.S. intelligence experts say.

While the U.S. does not necessarily believe that Beijing has sold whole missile systems to Pakistan, “it’s [the] technology that’s the area of concern,” Holum said.

“We made progress,” he added. “But the issue remains unresolved.”

Possible Chinese assistance to Pakistan has drawn fire on Capitol Hill, where members of Congress are contemplating legislation to monitor Chinese weapons proliferation. That proposal is complicating the run-up to a Senate vote on permanent normal trade ties with Beijing, which the Clinton administration ardently supports.

Holum declined to say whether the allegations about China, if true, would prompt sanctions under U.S. anti-proliferation rules.

“The objective of our policy . . . is not sanctions. The objective is solutions,” he said.

For its part, China raised objections to U.S. plans to build defense-shield technology against missiles. Both Beijing and Moscow oppose the idea, warning that it would spark an international arms race, and even some U.S. allies have raised their eyebrows at attempts to develop such expensive, untried and controversial technology.

Beijing fears especially that the missile shield technology would be passed on to Taiwan. Holum’s interlocutors raised the issue with him during their talks and also registered their objections to continued U.S. arms sales to the island, which China considers part of its rightful territory.

“We have made clear . . . that this is a decision that’s not been made,” Holum said of a possible transfer to Taiwan of missile defense capabilities, which still face years of development. But, he said, “we don’t rule [it] out.”

The outstanding issues between the U.S. and China are likely to be brought up again this week during a visit by Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen. His planned trip is the most visible symbol yet of the resumption of Sino-U.S. military discussions since the Belgrade embassy bombing.