China warned Thursday that the destruction of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty would spark a new round of arms race, which will be unfavorable to world peace, development and stability.
"We believe that the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty is the cornerstone for safeguarding global strategic balance and stability," Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said while talking about U.S. President George W. Bush's May 1 remarks on the development of a missile defense system.
If the treaty is destroyed, global strategic balance and stability will be broken, and the international arms control process and non-proliferation efforts will be impeded, Zhu said.
"We hope the United States to act with great care and continue to adhere to the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty and other present treaties on disarmament and arms control," he said.
(China Daily 05/04/2001)
