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China waffles on ignoring Pakistani N-test

China refused to confirm today it assured close ally Pakistan that no sanctions would be imposed if Islamabad conducted a nuclear test.

Pakistani Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmed discussed India's nuclear-power status with Chinese officials this week and yesterday, after returning home, said China promised not to punish Pakistan if it went ahead with its own test.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said Ahmed and Chinese officials discussed "the situation in South Asia.''

"The Pakistani side indicated that, as a responsible country, Pakistan will think carefully and make a balanced assessment of how to face the new circumstances,'' Zhu said at a twice-weekly media briefing.

Zhu renewed China's call for a united stand by governments worldwide to pressure India to relinquish its nuclear programme, a position, he said, Pakistan supported.

The call for international action marks an unusual foray for China into global politics and demonstrates Beijing's concern over escalating India-Pakistan tensions.

China has seldom joined appeals for international action. Previously the target of international sanctions, it rarely backs their use against other countries. China has not joined US efforts to use sanctions against India and is even less likely to do so against Pakistan.

Zhu stressed that South Asian countries would feel secure only if India abandoned development of nuclear weapons.

He also called "totally groundless'', Indian media reports that Chinese naval officers were using listening posts and bases in Myanmar to spy on India.

UNI

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