"China's government and people are strongly opposed to the inclusion of Taiwan into the US Theatre Missile Defence system," foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said.

"If the United States is bent on its plan to include Taiwan in its TMD system, it will constitute a wanton interference and threat to Chinese sovereignty and security."

Zhu's statements came only hours after Secretary of State-designate Colin Powell said the Bush administration would move ahead with TMD technology.

Powell also rejected the view of the outgoing administration that China should be viewed as a "strategic partner."

"We will treat China as she merits. A strategic partner, China is not. But neither is China our inevitable and implaccable foe," said Powell at his confirmation hearing before US senators.

"China is a competitor, a potential regional rival but also a trading partner ... but China is not an enemy and our challenge is to keep it that way."

Powell said he would work to ensure China and Russia understood that a projected multi-billion dollar National Missile Defense (NMD) system was not directed at them.

Beijing and Moscow have adamantly opposed the system which they say will destroy the present global strategic balance.

A successful NMD system would allow the US to shoot down incoming nuclear missiles and would form the basis for a joint US-Japan TMD system in East Asia.

During his confirmation hearings, Powell also said he would "expect and demand" that Beijing seek peaceful reunification with Taiwan.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhu, however, maintained that any development of the TMD or the NMD would undermine peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region as well as in the Taiwan Strait.

"We hope the US side will adhere to its commitment in the China-US joint communique and refrain from selling the Taiwan side the TMD system and related technology and weapons," he said.

All rights reserved. � 2001 Agence France-Presse. All information displayed on this section (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.

Related Links
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only