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Place sanctions on China: Pallone

Vinay Kumar

US President Bill Clinton has been asked to place sanctions on China for assisting Pakistan's missile programme.

Congressman Frank Pallone, a known friend of India, made the demand in a letter, pointing out that such assistance could be detrimental to peace in south Asia and spark an arms race there.

The letter claimed that both these countries consider neighbouring India a threat and are working together against it. Pallone wrote the letter soon after the intelligence agencies claimed that China was providing technical and material assistance to Pakistan to put together missiles capable of carrying nuclear payloads.

The congressman sought under the sanctions that trade of all defence equipment or services be stopped. He also demanded that all loans, credits and guarantees be halted.

He said that while the US was getting closer to India, it appeared inconsistent not to "hold China accountable for actions that directly threaten the security of India", particularly since India has been the victim of both. He said both Pakistan and China surround India and are causing instability in the region.

Though China has signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty, it has allegedly supplied to Pakistan plans crucial to the development of nuclear weaponry. It has also tacitly agreed to abide by the Missile Technology Control Regime but has not joined it.

It is also suspected that a North Korean ship found to be carrying what appeared to be material for nuclear plants in Pakistan had equipment that originated in China.

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