Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

China dismisses US pressure over drones

JERUSALEM: A Chinese official warned the United States against meddling in Beijing’s affairs on Wednesday after Washington reportedly told Israel not to upgrade a consignment of drones returned by China.

“Any interference from any country in the world is groundless and unreasonable,” state councillor for foreign relations Tang Jiaxuan told reporters after meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom. “We have cooperation in several fields (with Israel) and none of them violates the interest of any third party,” he added.

Reports here last week said that the US had demanded that Israel does not upgrade the consignment of drones which had been returned by China for upgrading. While Washington had given the green light for repairs to the Israeli-made Harpy drones, which were sold to China in the mid-1990s, they had not authorised their upgrade. Any suggestion of a rift with the United States is particular sensitive in Israel which regards its alliance with Washington as of paramount strategic importance.

Washington, which regards China as the emerging rival to its status as the world’s lone superpower, is concerned that advanced US defence technology contained in Israeli equipment could be used against Taiwan. The incident reared its head in parliament on Wednesday when Amos Yaron, director general of the defence ministry, refused to answer questions on the drones when he appeared before the foreign affairs and defence committee. afp

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_30-12-2004_pg7_48