2. International Views of US Missile Defense
The New York Times reported that US and PRC military officials are engaged in unofficial talks designed to find a means to gaining PRC acceptance of the proposed US missile defense system. PRC analysts do not believe there can be a compromise acceptable to both countries. The PRC said that it was "seriously concerned" about US plans to develop an anti-missile defense system, but expressed hopes that high-level contacts with the new US administration will go on.
"PRC Perspective on NMD" (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #5)
"PRC View of US Missile Defense" (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 6, US)
US President George W. Bush spoke for the first time, via phone, with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov also spoke for the first time with US Secretary of State Colin Powell. Details were not released on either call, but it is believed that they may have discussed, among other issues, the 1972 ABM Treaty and the proposed US National Missile Defense system. At the 37th Munich Security Policy Conference on February 4, Secretary of the Russian Security Commission Sergei Ivanov said that the most important factor of international security is to maintain strategic stability, and that the ABM Treaty is the base of this stability. However, he pointed out, the US system was liable to destroy the balance of strategic, defensive and offensive weapons and lead to a new arms race.
"Russia-US Talks on NMD" (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #5)
"Russian Position on NMD" (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 8, PRC)
Strana.ru reported that Russia will almost double defense expenditures from 2.8 percent of gross domestic product to 5 percent, if the new US administration deploys a national missile defense system. In talks with German officials, Russian officials stated its intention to oppose revision of the ABM Treaty and to oppose expansion of NATO. Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov that Russia is preparing to negotiate with the US on START III and stressed that Russia is willing to cut down its nuclear warheads to 1500 on the precondition that the 1972 ABM Treaty should be preserved and strengthened. German Defense Minister Rudolf Scharping shares the reservations of most European NATO members about the Bush administration proposal to build an anti-missile shield and the amendments it will almost certainly require to the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
"Russian Response to US NMD" (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #5)
"Russia-German Talks on NATO" (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #5)
"Peaceful Uses of Space" (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 8, PRC)
"PRC View of ABM" (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 8, PRC)
"German Position on NMD" (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 8, PRC)
Japanese analysts said that the national missile defense system advocated by the US administration is pushing Japan toward a stronger military stance.
"Japanese View of Missile Defense" (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 8, US)
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer discounted threats from the PRC that it would react to the US missile defense program by increasing its stock of missiles, noting that the PRC had already said it would modernize its ballistic-missile capacity, which "presumably means to expand it."
"Australian View of Missile Defense" (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 8, US)