FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

Chinese Foreign Ministry Statement Opposes U.S. Withdrawal from the INF Treaty

Feb. 3, 2019 (EIRNS)—China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang issued a statement Feb. 2 announcing that

“China opposes the United States move to denounce the [INF] treaty and urges the U.S. and Russia to properly settle the differences through an efficient dialogue. The U.S. unilateral withdrawal from the Treaty may have a whole number of implications, China will closely monitor the developments. As an important bilateral treaty in arms control and disarmament, the treaty is of great significance for smoothing relationships between major powers, promoting international and regional peace, and safeguarding global strategic balance and stability.”

Xinhua reported that Geng was asked about China’s stance on the negotiation of a new multilateral treaty on arms control, that might include China. The spokesman said that China is opposed to the multilateralization of the treaty, according to Xinhua.

“Multilateralization of the treaty involves a series of political, military and legal issues that are complicated, and many countries are quite concerned, Geng said. ‘The top priority is to safeguard and implement the existing treaty well, rather than drafting a new one to replace the old one,’ he said.”