Muted Chinese response to Japan missile test

Politics

19 December 2007

Beijing's response to Japan's first successful test of its nascent missile defense system did not include earlier concerns that such missile shields could undermine regional stability, the Financial Times reported. "We hope the Japanese side will act in ways that help to safeguard regional peace and stability and that promote mutual trust between its nations in the area, " said foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang at a press conference following the test, which shot down a ballistic missile over the Hawaiian islands. Chinese analysts worry that a missile defense system could be used to back up US assistance to Taiwan in the event of a conflict between the island and mainland China.

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