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The comments came after remarks made by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and his counterpart Fumio Kyuma during the Sixth Asia Security Summit, or Shangri-La Dialogue, hosted by the International Institute of Strategic Studies in Singapore on June 1-3. At the gathering both men put forward the idea that a missile system was necessary to stop rogue nations and terrorist organizations from using weapons of mass destruction.
The United States and Japan have been intensifying efforts to build a joint missile defense system in the wake of North Korea's nuclear test last October. The country is suspected of owning missiles able to hit the United States, but its capability to arm such weapons with nuclear warheads is uncertain.
While in Singapore, Gates said the United States has been adjusting and strengthening its regional and bilateral relationships at "all points of the Asian compass" to meet new challenges of the 21st century.
Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Jiang Yu expressed "grave concerns" over the deployment of a missile system, saying that such moves would "impact stability and the strategic balance." She said the plan would not strengthen mutual trust between major nations or boost regional security, and warned that it might "cause new proliferation problems."
Gen. Zhang Qinsheng, deputy chief of the People's Liberation Army, told reporters on Saturday that the development of an anti-missile system by the United States, Australia and Japan could destabilize Asia. China would oppose "very strongly" any attempt to extend such a system to cover Taiwan, Gen Zhang said at a conference press briefing.
The Taiwan Relations Act passed by Congress in 1979 requires the United States to come to the defense of the island, which China considers a breakaway province, if it is attacked. Defense analysts estimate the mainland has at least 600 missiles pointed at Taiwan.
The United States shares a broad range of security interests with China, including terrorism, nonproliferation, and energy issues, as well as broad, remarkably interconnected economic and trading ties, the U.S. Defense Secretary said. He said that despite differences on some issues, "there is reason to be optimistic about the U.S.-China relationship," but also promised "we will fulfill our commitments in Asia."
The Chinese spokeswoman declined to comment on whether or not a missile defense system could effectively stop an attack or if China would introduce its own system in the future. However, she delivered a clear message expressing China's unease: "On missile defense arrangements between the U.S. and Japan, our position is consistent -- we hope the relevant parties proceed cautiously."
